Percutaneous endopyelotomy and results: Korth technique.
Endoscopic incision of ureteral strictures has become an important component of the urologic armamentarium. Despite different techniques and stenting times applied for the procedures, the rates of long-term favorable outcomes have proved to range consistently from 72% to 89% for both secondary and primary hydronephrosis. Cold-knife incision combined with 3 weeks of stenting has been utilized at our institution from the beginning. The results have been as favorable as those from other groups. However, stenting times are the subject of controversy. In a prospective trial, a newly designed stent for internal reflux-free drainage and subcutaneous fixation was applied in 53 patients and left indwelling for 6 months. Whereas such long-term stenting using the Endostent seemed to produce less favorable overall results, stenting for 3 weeks proved sufficient in lower-grade hydronephrosis secondary to small stenotic ureteral segments. Although stenoses recurred in 12% of our cases, 90% of these recurrences could be treated endoscopically. All but two recurrences became evident within the first 6 months after stent removal. After a mean follow-up of 20.2 +/- 19.6 months, the outcomes have remained unchanged even on late reexamination.