Politano-Leadbetter Ureteroneocystostomy

Purpose: We evaluated the results and complications of children with reflux treated with the Politano-Leadbetter ureteroneocystostomy. In particular, we evaluated pre- and postoperative renal parenchymal scarring and the late development of hypertension. Materials and Methods: From 1965 through 1996, 666 children (814 renal units) were reimplanted by nine urologists. The average postoperative evaluation was 10.3 years, and 68.8% of all patiens were evaluable 10 years after surgery. Results: Postoperative complications occurred in 7.8% and consisted of small bowel serosal injury (0.3%), vesicocutaneous fistula (0.4%) and retrovesical hematoma (0.3%). Persistent reflux was the most common postoperative complication (5.6%) and was found to occur in higher grades of vesicorenal reflux. Ureteral stricture and hydronephrosis were seen in 1.2% of children, and was corrected with a secondary reimplantation. Late stricture occurred in all but 1 patient (0.2%). Renal parenchymal scarring was found in 21.2% of patients preoperatively, and this increased over time postoperatively to 27.7%. In 8.7% of these patients, hypertension developed between the 6th and 17th postoperative year. In 6.1%, nephrectomy was carried out, which normalized blood pressures in 87.9% of these 30 patients. Conclusions: The Politano-Leadbetter ureteroneocystostomy was successful in 93.6% of all 814 renal units surgically treated. The operation is safe, but can be associated with late development of hypertension despite correction of the reflux.