Iatrogenic Ureteral Transection During Suprapubic Cystolithotomy: A Rare Case Report

Iatrogenic trauma during open surgery, laparoscopy, or endoscopic procedures is the most common cause of ureteral injury. Suture ligation, sharp incision or transection, avulsion, thermal injury and devascularization can cause ureteral damage. The majority of iatrogenic injuries involve lower ureter [1-3]. Injuries can be subtle and clinicians must have a high index of suspicion.

A 6-year girl was referred to us after suprapubic cystolithotomy (SPCL) for a 2.5 cm primary vesical calculus (Figure 1). On day 3 with abdominal drain output more than 500 ml per day with per urethral catheter draining 100 ml per day. Her Hb was 9 gm%, leucocyte count was 11300 per mm3 and serum creatinine was 1.1 mg%. She was tested negative for Covid-19. On ultrasonography, her right kidney was small (54* 26 mm), the left kidney (84*39 mm) was normal in size with hypoechoic echotexture. The contrastenhanced CT scan (Figure 2) revealed prompt excretion of contrast from both kidneys. Also, mild hydroureteronephrosis was evident on the left side with contrast extravasation from the lower ureter.

Under general anesthesia, left ureteroscopy revealed a complete transection of ureter 1.5 cm from the ureteric orifice. Since lower ureter was cut across, antegrade double J (DJ) stenting was not attempted. Exploration with lower midline abdominal incision was done. The left ureter was mobilized, and good length was obtained. To our utter surprise, anteriorly bladder wall was intact (Figure 3) and cystotomy was placed on the left posterolateral wall hardly 1 cm from ureteral hiatus (Figure 4). Even a retractor placed over ureter could transect it. Possibly, the assistant retracted the empty bladder to the right side and led to the judgmental error. We presume that with the distended bladder, it couldn’t have happened. Through a separate anterior wall cystotomy, the intravesical ureter was excised. Distal ureteric margins were freshened and spatulated. Ureteric reimplantation was done into the same tunnel after putting a 4F DJ stent. Layered closure was done after putting 20 F malecot as a suprapubic catheter (SPC) and retropubic drain. She fared well postoperatively. Drain tube was removed on day 2 and was discharged on day 7 after the removal of stitches and SPC. She was advised to come 3 weeks later for DJ removal and was followed-up in the outpatient department with ultrasonography and micturating cystourethrogram at 3-months without no hydronephrosis or vesicoureteral reflux.

The Majority of ureteral injuries occur during the hysterectomy, colorectal surgery, ovarian tumor removal, transabdominal urethropexy, abdominal vascular surgery, and radiation treatment [4,5]. If not treated, they can cause serious complications like urinoma, septicemia, renal failure and even loss of affected renal unit [6]. Management of such injuries depends upon location and severity of the ureteral injury. Ureteral injury during SPCL is unprecedented and it is unbelievable even in wildest dreams as to how it could happen. Left posterolateral cystotomy and manipulations close to the left ureteral hiatus led to its transection. Bladder filling with saline before cystotomy could prevent this complication. The opinion is divided over immediate reimplant and percutaneous nephrostomy and delayed repair [7]. Considering the only well-functioning left kidney and future pregnancy, anti-reflux ureteroneocystostomy was performed into the native tunnel.

The pelvic ureter is the most common site for iatrogenic ureteral injuries. Treatment depends upon the extent, cause, and timing of diagnosis. While ureteral reconstruction is a domain of open surgery, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted approaches are also being used. Ureteric transection during SPCL is an unusual and shocking complication. To our knowledge, it is not reported earlier

None.

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