[Failures observed after repair of the pyeloureteric junction in children based on a series of thirteen cases]

We report a series of 13 infants with failed surgery for pyeloureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction. Failure was defined as the necessity for further surgery, either refashioning of the anastomosis or nephrectomy. These infants were part of a series of 306 with 322 PUJ. Of the 258 surgically treated infants, 232 (90%) had a post operative course without complication or need for reoperation. The failure rate was significantly higher in infants operated before the age of 4 months (8/65: 12.3%) when compared with those over 4 months of age (5/193: 2.59%). The use of postoperative drainage via a nephrostomy significantly reduced the percentage of early complications (e.g. fistula) but did not affect the final failure rate. The severity of the obstruction at presentation correlated with a bad outcome after reoperation. Of the cases which resulted in failure after reoperation (7/258: 2.7%) all occurred in cases of severe obstruction with parenchymal damage. While the failure of surgery is often evident early (persistant fistula, urinoma, non-functioning kidney on IVP) this may only become obvious some years later. Reoperations were successful in half the cases irrespective of the time between the initial operation and the reoperation. Long term follow-up of all infants operated for PUJ obstruction is recommended.