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Ureteric injuries during colorectal surgery: strategies for prevention
Author(s) -
Kutiyanawala,
Alexander P. Scott,
Jameson
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1046/j.1463-1318.1999.00087.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ureter , surgery , incidence (geometry) , complication , sigmoid colon , general surgery , audit , rectum , physics , management , optics , economics
Background Injuries to the ureter are a known complication of pelvic surgery and well described during gynaecological procedures. There is however little published recent literature on ureteric injuries during surgery for rectal and sigmoid pathology. Patients and methods All patients undergoing pelvic colorectal surgery over a 4‐year period were identified from data prospectively gathered for the purposes of audit and iatrogenic ureteric injuries identified. This information was cross‐checked with data entered in the pathology computer. Results Five patients had identified ureteric injuries. An incidence of 1.9% compares favourably with other published series. There was increased morbidity in this group with loss of kidney in one patient, a consequence of the ureteric trauma. Conclusion Preoperative imaging of the ureter, ureteric catheterization in selected cases and careful meticulous surgical technique will help prevent damage to the ureters intra‐operatively.