Is lower urinary tract surgery without upper pole heminephrectomy safe and effective in the long-term treatment of duplex system ureterocele?

Objective: The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate postoperative results of patients with duplex system ureterocele (DSU) who underwent endoscopic ureterocele incision (UI), lower urinary tract reconstruction (LUTR) or both, and investigate the necessity of upper pole heminephrectomy (UPH) in ureterocele treatment. Patients and methods: In total, 44 patients with DSU who were operated on in December 2005 and December 2018 were evaluated for patient characteristics, ureterocele location, differential renal function (DRF), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), postoperative incontinence, proteinuria, hypertension and urinary tract infection (UTI). Results: UI was performed in 27 of 44 cases (61.3%) as the first-line treatment. Ten of them (37%) had no urinary infection or renal function loss at a mean of 3 years (1.5-7 years). LUTR was needed in 17 patients after UI due to VUR in 14 patients and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in 3 patients. In total, 34 patients who underwent LUTR, proteinuria or incontinence were not detected in the mean 6 years' follow-up. Thirty-three patients (97%) had identical renal scans and similar DRF before and after the operation. No patient underwent UPH. Conclusion: UI must be considered the first-line treatment in DSU in infancy. In older patients, especially with VUR, LUTR is effective and safe and UPH mostly is not necessary.