Conservative Management of Postoperative Urinary Leak and Intra-Abdominal Abscess

Cureus. 2023 Jun 6;15(6):e40039. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40039. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Ureteral injury is a rare occurrence in medical practice. Most cases encountered stem from blunt trauma or are iatrogenic, occurring during open abdominal or pelvic surgery and laparoscopic procedures. Prompt diagnosis of ureteral injury allows clinicians to avoid complications including ureteral strictures, abscess, renal failure, sepsis, and loss of the ipsilateral kidney. Treatment depends on whether the ureteral injury was discovered intraoperatively or if it was a delayed diagnosis. Several procedures can be used, including ureteroureterostomy, ureteroileal interposition, and nephrectomy. Stenting can also be a viable option as it can reestablish urinary drainage. Herein, we present the case of a 43-year-old male who presented with complaints of progressive abdominal pain that was subsequently diagnosed as a left ureteral injury and how the use of a ureteral stent allowed him to have a full recovery with optimized normal ureteral function.

Keywords: genitourinary trauma; hematuria; iatrogenic ureter injury; nephrostomy tube; ureter leak; ureteral injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports