Ureteric patency after Deflux® injection for the treatment of vesicoureteric reflux in children confirmed by a novel epidural catheter-assisted endoscopic technique.

PURPOSE: We present EDCAT (epidural catheter-assisted Deflux(®) treatment) for treating vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and confirming ureteric patency after Deflux(®) treatment.

METHODS

We treated 147 ureters in 101 children (M:F 62:39; VUR ≤ grade III: n = 72; VUR ≥ grade IV: n = 75) using EDCAT between 2011 and 2014. EDCAT involves injecting 1-3 mL of diluted indigo carmine solution through an epidural anesthesia catheter inserted into the Deflux(®)-treated ureter and observing for up to 15 min to confirm patency.

RESULTS

For EDCAT, mean age was 4.9 years and mean operative time was 30.1 ± 12.1 min; overall cure of VUR after initial treatment was 87.7 % for VUR grades I-V, 88.9 % for VUR ≤ grade III, and 86.6 % for VUR ≥ grade IV; VUR was cured in 129/147 after 1 treatment, 7/18 after 2 treatments, 7/11 after 3 treatments, and persistent in 4/4. We experienced 1 case of obstruction after an EDCAT catheter was removed before confirming patency. EDCAT catheters were left overnight in 2 ureters in 2 cases when patency could not be confirmed after 15 min to prevent obstruction. Both did not develop obstruction. Four ureters with recurrence of VUR (all grade ≤ II) are being observed.

CONCLUSION

EDCAT allows ureteric patency to be confirmed immediately and prevents obstruction.