Treatment Outcomes After Endopyelotomy Performed with or without Simultaneous Nephrolithotomy: 10-Year Experience

Introduction: The incidence of renal calculi associated with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) has been reported to be as high as 20%. Although it has been suggested that simultaneous stone removal be performed with endopyelotomy (EP) for patients with UPJO, no crossing vessel, and renal calculi, there are no large series to date reporting in a rigorous fashion the success rate for resolution of the UPJO. This study intends to determine if stone extraction performed with EP increases failure rate. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed for all patients who underwent EP by a single surgeon between August 1996 and November 2006. One hundred forty-six procedures for UPJO were done in 139 patients. Success rate was compared in 105 cases (72%) of isolated UPJO and 41 (28%) cases with UPJO and ipsilateral calculi. Determination of overall success required subjective improvement and objective data based on intravenous pyelogram, computed tomography, and/or nuclear scintigraphy. Results: Overall success rate was 71% in patients undergoing EP only and 90% in 41 patients who had simultaneous nephrolithotomy (p=0.04). The odds ratio of failure after EP was 2.9 for severe/massive preoperative hydronephrosis. When considered alone and after adjusting for the severity of preoperative hydronephrosis and/or renal function, simultaneous nephrolithotomy did not increase the EP failure rate. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that UPJO resolves at an equal rate after EP performed with or without ipsilateral renal calculi. Patients with UPJO and renal calculi should undergo stone extraction and EP in the same setting with the expectation of excellent results.