Long-Term Results of Posterolateral Extravesical Ureteroneocystostomy and its Comparison with the Conventional Anterior Extravesical Ureteroneocystostomy Method in the Management of Urologic Complications in Kidney Transplant Patients

Purpose: Urological complications are common and serious in kidney transplant patients. Correct diagnosis of urological complications and rapid intervention are very important to maintain the transplanted organ. Using endoscopic methods and rapid access to ureteral orifice can be effective in treatment and management of urological complications in transplant patients. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 934 medical records of kidney transplant patients who underwent surgery through Posterolateral Extravesical Ureteroneocystostomy (PLEVUNC) and anterior extravesical ureteroneocystostomy (AEVUNC) techniques from 2011 to 2018 were evaluated. The outcomes of PLEVUNC and AEVUNC techniques were evaluated in 461 and 473 transplant patients, respectively. The patients were followed up for 60 months. Immediate and delayed complications, urological complications requiring endoscopic intervention, duration of access to ureteral orifice, as well as ureteroscopic and endoscopic outcomes were evaluated. Results: The mean and ± SD (standard deviation) age of patients in PLEVUNC and AEVUNC groups were 46.2 7± 2.7 years and 47.3 ± 3.6 years, respectively. Urinary leakage and UTI were the most common immediate (7% and 6.2%) and delayed (5.5% and 5.5%) complications in both groups, respectively. The time to find ureteral orifice in patients requiring endoscopic intervention was significantly shorter in PLEVUNC group 3.5±1.2 compared with the AEVUNC group 10 ± 4.5 (P .001). In 100% of PLEVUNC group and 62.6% of AEVUNC group, ureteral orifice of transplanted kidney was observed (P .001). Ureteroscopy was reported successful in 94.5% and 37.4% of patients in PLEVUNC and AEVUNC groups, respectively. Conclusion: Easy and safe access to the ureteral orifice and to the upper urinary tract in transplant recipients can be achieved with the PLEVUNC technique. In case of urological complications this method facilitates endoscopy.