Outcome of ureteral reimplantation in children with the urge syndrome

Purpose: While bladder dysfunction, particularly detrusor-sphincter incoordination, appears to be associated with a higher ureteral reimplantation failure rate, the potential effect of the urge syndrome or detrusor instability alone on surgical outcome remains unclear. We assessed the effect of the underlying urge syndrome on the outcome of ureteral implantation in cases of primary vesicoureteral reflux. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who underwent ureteral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux at our institution in an 11-year period. The urge syndrome was considered frequency, urgency or urge incontinence with absent urinary tract infection. Patients with and without the urge syndrome were compared with respect to the rate of urinary tract infection and renal scarring as well as postoperative outcome. Results: We identified 25 patients (40 ureters) with and 67 (113 ureters) without the urge syndrome. Reimplantation was successful in all except I ureter in a patient without the urge syndrome. Postoperatively 2 patients without the syndrome had transient contralateral reflux and IL in each group had transient ipsilateral reflux. No case required reoperation. Postoperatively patients with the syndrome had a significantly higher incidence of febrile (16% versus 1.5%, p <0.05) and afebrile (52% versus 12%, p <0.05) urinary tract infection. Conclusions: The results of ureteral reimplantation are excellent with 99.3% success irrespective of the presence or absence of the urge syndrome. Thus, when clinically indicated, reimplantation may be performed safely in such cases. The higher incidence of postoperative urinary tract infection in patients with the urge syndrome may require continuing antibiotic prophylaxis in addition to anticholinergics until voiding symptoms resolve.