British Journalof Urology (1992), 70,210-215
01992 British Journalof Urology
Points of Tech nique The Rat-tail Catheter in Ureteroneocystostomy Operations K. ANAFARTA, T. YURDAKUL and Y. BEDUK, Department of Urology, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Ureteric stents are used in ureteroneocystostomy procedures to prevent ureteric kinking and oedema around the anastomosis, to facilitate wound healing and to prevent urinary leakage (Saltzman, 1988). Specially designed silicone tubes and feeding tubes have been used for this purpose but in recent years double-pigtail ureteric catheters have been preferred (Finney, 1982). When these methods are used, urinary drainage is assisted by a urethral catheter. We have used the rat-tail catheter (Rusch, Waiblingen, Germany), which is mainly employed in ureteropyeloplasty procedures (Fig. 1A) as both a ureteric stent and a urethral catheter in ureteroneocystostomy operations.
Technique
The rat-tail catheter with balloon has been used in 10 patients with primary obstructed megaureter and vesicoureteric reflux who underwent unilateral ureteroneocystostomy using intravesical methods. The balloon of the rat-tail catheter was inserted urethrally, inflated and fixed at the neck of the bladder with the ureteric part placed in the ureter as a stent, following completion of the anastomosis (Fig. 1B). No incompatibility was observed between the calibration of the urethral and ureteric sections.
Fig. 1 (A) Conventional use of rat-tail catheter in pyeloplasty procedure. (B) Rat-tail catheter used in neocystostomy procedure.
This method is not felt suitable for patients with long-term indwelling stents but for short-term use and in ureteroneocystostomy procedures the rattail catheter is preferable to other ureteric stents.
References
Comment
When used as a urethral catheter and a ureteric stent the rat-tail catheter is easy to insert and there is no need for a second procedure to remove the stent. No difference was found in the post-operative infection rate following the use of rat-tail catheters and other stents.
Finney, R. P. (1982). Double-J and diversion stents. Urol. Clin. North Am., 9,89-94. Saltzman, B. (1988). Ureteral stents. Indications, variations, and complications. Urol. Clin.North Am., 15,481491.
Requests for reprints to: K. Anafarta, Ankara Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Uroloji Anabilim Dali Ibn-i Sina Hastahanesi, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey.
210
01992 British Journalof Urology
Points of Tech nique The Rat-tail Catheter in Ureteroneocystostomy Operations K. ANAFARTA, T. YURDAKUL and Y. BEDUK, Department of Urology, University of Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Ureteric stents are used in ureteroneocystostomy procedures to prevent ureteric kinking and oedema around the anastomosis, to facilitate wound healing and to prevent urinary leakage (Saltzman, 1988). Specially designed silicone tubes and feeding tubes have been used for this purpose but in recent years double-pigtail ureteric catheters have been preferred (Finney, 1982). When these methods are used, urinary drainage is assisted by a urethral catheter. We have used the rat-tail catheter (Rusch, Waiblingen, Germany), which is mainly employed in ureteropyeloplasty procedures (Fig. 1A) as both a ureteric stent and a urethral catheter in ureteroneocystostomy operations.
Technique
The rat-tail catheter with balloon has been used in 10 patients with primary obstructed megaureter and vesicoureteric reflux who underwent unilateral ureteroneocystostomy using intravesical methods. The balloon of the rat-tail catheter was inserted urethrally, inflated and fixed at the neck of the bladder with the ureteric part placed in the ureter as a stent, following completion of the anastomosis (Fig. 1B). No incompatibility was observed between the calibration of the urethral and ureteric sections.
Fig. 1 (A) Conventional use of rat-tail catheter in pyeloplasty procedure. (B) Rat-tail catheter used in neocystostomy procedure.
This method is not felt suitable for patients with long-term indwelling stents but for short-term use and in ureteroneocystostomy procedures the rattail catheter is preferable to other ureteric stents.
References
Comment
When used as a urethral catheter and a ureteric stent the rat-tail catheter is easy to insert and there is no need for a second procedure to remove the stent. No difference was found in the post-operative infection rate following the use of rat-tail catheters and other stents.
Finney, R. P. (1982). Double-J and diversion stents. Urol. Clin. North Am., 9,89-94. Saltzman, B. (1988). Ureteral stents. Indications, variations, and complications. Urol. Clin.North Am., 15,481491.
Requests for reprints to: K. Anafarta, Ankara Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Uroloji Anabilim Dali Ibn-i Sina Hastahanesi, Samanpazari, Ankara, Turkey.
210
