Conservative management of retrocaval Ureter: A case series

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2015:15:93-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2015.08.032. Epub 2015 Aug 22.

Abstract

Introduction: Retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly with the ureter passage posterior to the inferior vena cava. Surgical repair is suggested for patients with significant functional obstruction. However, there is little literature to suggest the management of asymptomatic patients.

Case presentation: Case 1 patient is a 29 year-old Indonesian man and case 2 patient is a 41 year-old Malay man. Both patients were asymptomatic and well.

Discussion: This report is the short follow-up, therefore making it impossible to elucidate the natural history of uncorrected retrocaval ureters.

Conclusion: At 8 month and 6 month respectively, they remained well without symptoms. Our report suggests that immediate surgical repair is not always needed. Longer follow-up with larger patient population is needed to formally elucidate the natural history of this uncommon condition.

Keywords: Circumcaval ureter; Conservative management; Preureteral vena cava; Retrocaval ureter.