Iatrogenic ureteric injury : A real medicolegal dilemma

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Sataa Sallami

Abstract

Background: Iatrogenic ureteral injuries are not so rare and may have serious medicolegal repercussions.
Aim: To report a case of iatrogenic ureteral injury, secondary to ureterolysis and treated by substitutive non-modeled ureteroileoplasty.
Case report: A 70-year-old man, who presented extrinsic ureteral compression due to idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, underwent ureterolysis. Peroperatively, the ureter was injured and the damage was so important that the surgeon decided and performed a substitutive non-modeled uretero-ileoplasty. Immediate postoperative course was normal. Many years after, he developed hydronephrotic poor functioning kidney with multiple renal lithiasis and a large ileal tube stone. He underwent a nephroureterectomy with ileal tube excision.
Conclusion: Through this observation, we evaluate the operator peroperative decisions and the medicolegal consequences.

Keywords:

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, ureter, ileum, ureteral stricture, ureterolysis, stone, nephrectomy.

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