Ureter Disorders

Treatment Options

Temporary Treatment

A ureteral disorder that is causing severe pain may require an immediate procedure to remove urine from the body and temporarily relieve the problems caused by a blockage. The procedures may include:

• Inserting a tube (catheter) through the urethra into the bladder.
• Inserting a tube (stent) through the ureter to open it up.
• Inserting a nephrostomy tube in the back to drain the kidney directly (percutaneous nephrostomy).

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Urologists at Mayo Clinic in Rochester are national leaders in clinical research and experience in minimally invasive procedures for urologic problems, including ureteral disorders.

During minimally invasive surgery, the surgeon inserts a small, flexible tube with a tiny camera into the body through the urethra or through a small incision. The camera allows physicians to see inside the body. They can also perform surgery by inserting and manipulating instruments through the tube. Patients often have shorter hospital stays, less discomfort and bleeding, and a shorter recovery period including less time away from work and regular activities.

One option for laparoscopic surgery for a ureteral disorder is:

• Endopyelotomy or laparoscopic pyeloplasty
  These procedures are used to correct a blocked or damaged ureter. The surgeon reopens or repairs the ureter, then inserts a stent (hollow tube) inside the ureter to keep the ureter open. This stent will remain in place for up to six weeks, and is removed during a later office visit.

Open Surgery

The goal of surgery for a ureteral disorder is to remove blockages and repair damage to the ureters and kidneys. Because of the urinary system's complexity, a patient's treatment may involve more than one surgery. Surgeries to correct a ureteral disorder can involve:

• Heminephrectomy
  This surgery removes the part of the kidney that has been damaged by the ureteral disorder.
  
• Ureterectomy
  The surgeon removes part or all of a ureter, and then reconnects the kidney to the bladder by moving the kidney down, stretching the bladder up, or replacing the ureter using other body tissue. The type of repair depends on how much of the ureter is removed.
  
• Ureteral reimplantation
  The abnormal section of the ureter is removed and the remaining healthy sections are reconnected and reattached to the bladder.

Medications

Urinary tract infections associated with a ureteral disorder are treated with antibiotics. These infections can be difficult to cure, and typically return frequently. Antibiotic treatment is necessary for each infection to prevent infections in the bladder or kidneys.