Role of Preoperative Ureteric Stenting in Optimization of Patients with Retroperitoneal Tumors Associated with Obstructive Uropathy

Retroperitoneal tumors can cause ureteric obstruction leading to obstructive uropathy. Early preoperative ureteric stenting helps to improve renal function and also helps in identifying ureters and prevent ureteric injury during surgery. This study was aimed at assessing the outcome of preoperative stenting in optimizing such patients. A total of 24 cases were enrolled. Of these, 15 patients who had obstructive uropathy were taken for ureteric stenting preoperatively and other 9 patients have undergone surgery without stenting. Twelve patients were stented successfully but 3 patients could not be stented (underwent percutaneous nephrostomy). All 24 patients underwent laparotomy, and of the 12 stented patients, 11 underwent successful resection and one had unresectable tumor. The patient’s serum creatinine was assessed initially and then twice after stenting (48 h and 5 days). Serum creatinine was also estimated 24 h after excision of the tumor. In the successfully stented and operated patients, mean initial creatinine was 7.85. The mean creatinine at 48 h and 5 days after stenting was 4.29 and 1.19 respectively. The mean creatinine 24 h after resection of the tumor was 1.04. Of the non-stented patients, 3 had ureteric injury during surgery. We conclude that preoperative ureteric stenting is helpful for optimization of patients with retroperitoneal tumors with obstructive uropathy.