Endopyelotomy with the Acucise cutting balloon device. Early clinical experience.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of the Acucise balloon cutting device in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stenosis.

METHODS

Forty-four patients with primary (21) or secondary (23) UPJ stenosis underwent Acucise endopyelotomy between July 1992 and February 1995.

RESULTS

The average operating time was 53 min and the average hospital stay was 6 +/- 4 days. The follow-up schedule included a symptom questionnaire, intravenous urography and diuretic renal scan. Of the 44 patients, 38 have been followed for a minimum of 3 months postoperatively (mean: 12 months, range: 3-39 months). Overall success was achieved in 29 (76%). The procedure was successful in 16 out of 19 cases (84%) with secondary strictures. When the technique was used for the treatment of primary UPJ strictures, the success rate was only 68% (13 out 19). The presence of a large periureteric urinoma was identified as the cause of failure in 2 cases of primary strictures.

CONCLUSION

We recommend the use of the Acucise device as the first-line therapy for treatment of secondary UPJ stenosis (except in the presence of large enclosed stones). We do not approve the use of the Acucise device for treatment of primary UPJ strictures. In primary hydronephrosis, the negative role of periureteric extravasation probably explains the low success rate of 68% (as opposed to 85% for a large series of percutaneous endopyelotomies.