The ureters are the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. There are several reasons scar tissue may form in a ureter especially after trauma, operative injury to ureter or even radiation. Sometimes the ureter may be narrow from other medical issues like endometriosis or cancer. Scar tissue makes the ureter tube narrow, and the urine does not drain well. This is painful and leads to infection or worse long term kidney damage. Ureteroplasty is a procedure and surgery that can fix the narrowing.<\/p>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"","layer_id":"add40"},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content":"
Pyeloplasty has the best success for patients with UPJ obstruction. After laparoscopic pyeloplasty, there may be scarring in the abdomen area. Typically, the obstruction will not come back but that is possible.<\/p>\n
UPJ obstruction can be treated with surgery called a pyleoplasty. Sometimes this is treated very early in life to prevent failure or injury of the kidney. Surgery is not required for all patients. Surgery is usually minimally invasive and is known as pyeloplasty. The process takes a few hours. The portion of the ureter that is scarred or blocked by another vascular structure is removed or repaired. The normal ureter is then reattached to the renal pelvis of the kidney. A stent is left in the ureter until the repair is healed, usually 2-4 weeks.<\/p>\n
What happens after pyeloplasty surgery?<\/strong><\/p>\n Urinary Reconstruction and Diversion<\/p>\n When bladder cancer forces the removal of the entire bladder, the surgeon creates another way for urine to be collected, stored and released from the body.<\/p>\n There are three ways this can be done, and our physicians will help you decide which is best for you:<\/strong><\/p>\n Artificial Bladder<\/strong><\/p>\n A surgeon uses tissues from the intestines to create what is known as a neobladder. The neobladder is attached to the urethra and allows the patient to urinate normally. We are leaders in the field of this minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. With this procedure, there is less blood loss and patients are able to return to normal physical activity much faster.<\/p>\n Urinary diversion with a bag outside the body<\/strong><\/p>\n A surgeon uses intestinal tissue to create a path for urine to leave the body through an opening in the abdomen. This path is called a stoma. Its opening in the abdomen is covered by a bag that sits outside the body and catches the urine as it is released.<\/p>\n Urinary diversion with a pouch inside the body<\/strong><\/p>\n A surgeon uses intestinal tissue to create a reservoir called an Indiana Pouch and a path that leads out to the abdomen. The pouch collects urine inside the body. Several times a day, the patient uses a catheter, or soft tube, to connect to the path in the abdomen and empty urine in the Indiana pouch. Providence Saint John\u2019s specializes in this procedure.<\/p>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"","layer_id":"add40"},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_people","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"Doctors Who Use Robotic Surgery to Treat Urinary Obstruction","layer_intro":" Meet our expert team of doctors who use the latest technology to treat Urinary Obstruction.<\/span><\/p>\n","people":{"893":{"id":893,"title":"Timothy G. Wilson, M.D."},"871":{"id":871,"title":"Jennifer Linehan, M.D."},"889":{"id":889,"title":"Przemyslaw W. Twardowski, M.D."},"875":{"id":875,"title":"Mehran Movassaghi, M.D., MBA"}},"layer_people_more_link":{"title":"Meet Our Team of Urology and Urologic Oncology Experts","url":"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/urology\/meet-our-team\/","target":""},"layer_background_color":"","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"Urologic Cancer Supportive Care","layer_intro":"","layer_content":" In addition to the expert medical care available from our team of cancer physicians, we offer a host of integrative and wellness services that aim to address the physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones throughout the cancer journey.<\/p>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":[{"acf_fc_layout":"cta_button","cta_button":{"field_5a8f20316c030":{"field_5a8f212e418ee_field_5a69ec51d95e0":"","field_5a8f212e418ee_field_5a8eed2d1fd46":{"title":"Cancer Support","url":"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/cancer-support\/","target":""},"field_5a8f212e418ee_field_5a8eed441fd47":"primary"},"widget_id_base":"cta_btn","number":"63929e56c3bb2","widget_id":"cta_btn-63929e56c3bb2","instance":{"title":"","display_title":"Learn about our cancer support services"},"the_widget":"Em_Widget_CTA_Button"}}],"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_two_column","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"Additional Resources","layer_intro":"","layer_content_left":" Urinary Obstruction<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Patient Resources<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Current Urologic Clinical Trials<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","layer_content_right":" Testimonials<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n
\nRisks for patients after surgery could be urinary tract infections or kidney stones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","layer_is_content_auto_columns":false,"sidebar_position":"right","widgets":false,"layer_icon":"","layer_icon_position":"left","layer_background_color":"bg-none","layer_id":"add40"},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content":"Reconstruction after Cystectomy<\/h2>\n