The clinical utility and safety of the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in patients with duplex ureters

Hensle, T.W.; Reiley, E.A.; Ritch, C.; Murphy, A.

doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2009.05.015

« Previous Next »Journal of Pediatric Urology
Volume 6, Issue 1 , Pages 15-22, February 2010

The clinical utility and safety of the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in patients with duplex ureters

T.W. Hensle
- Children's Hospital of New York, 3959 Broadway, 219N, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Urology, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Corresponding author at: Children's Hospital of New York, 3959 Broadway, 219N, New York, NY 10032, USA. Tel.: +1 212 305 8510; fax: +1 212 305 4421.
E.A. Reiley
- Hackensack University Medical Center, Department of Urology, 90 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07666, USA
C. Ritch
- Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Urology, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
A. Murphy
- Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Urology, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA

Received 24 February 2009; accepted 28 May 2009. published online 22 July 2009.

Abstract

Objective

A systemic review of published literature on the use of bulking agents in the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in patients with duplex systems was performed in order to evaluate the diagnostic challenges; determine success rates, and compare with use in single systems; and evaluate safety, in particular of Deflux.

Methods

A PubMed/Medline search was conducted for index articles discussing duplex ureters published in 1963–2007. All types of publications were included. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed.

Results

Overall, 28 different treatment arms originating in 17 separate studies (19 publications) satisfied the inclusion criteria for linear regression efficacy analysis. Data were available on 2879 patients: 2400 with single and 479 with duplex systems. Ten publications provided information on the frequency of failure to diagnose duplex systems using specific techniques. An overall 18% failure rate to detect duplex systems was reported for combined techniques. For patients in whom favorable anatomic location of ureters allowed successful endoscopic injection of a bulking agent, correction of VUR was achieved in 53–100% of cases. A univariant analysis showed no difference in success rate between single and duplex systems with the use of Deflux, or other bulking agent. The predicted probability of success in a single system was 68% and in a duplex system 64%.

Conclusions

There is significant potential for failing to detect duplex systems prior to preparing an individual for either open or endoscopic treatment. From the studies available, endoscopic injection of bulking agents is highly successful in correcting mild-to-moderate VUR in duplex systems, with no reports of serious or clinically significant adverse effects. At a minimum, duplex systems would not seem to be a contraindication to the use of Deflux or any other bulking agent.

Keywords: Vesicoureteral reflux, Duplex ureters, Bulking agents, Deflux, Complications