Hand-assisted laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy with renal mobilization for delayed recognition of a proximal ureteral injury after lumbar disk surgery

We present hand-assisted laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy (HALUU) with renal mobilization as a novel approach to the management of proximal ureteral injury after lumbar disk surgery. A 63-year-old female underwent L4-L5 diskectomy and facetectomy with cage placement for back and leg pain. Postoperatively, she developed fever, nausea, abdominal pain, ileus and leukocytosis. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast and delayed imaging demonstrated a left proximal ureteral injury with contrast extravasation. Retrograde and antegrade ureteral stent placement was unsuccessful; a nephrostomy tube was placed. Antegrade and retrograde ureterograms revealed a 3-cm proximal ureteral defect. All treatment options were discussed, and the patient chose to undergo hand-assisted laparoscopic renal mobilization with ureteroureterostomy, which was completed successfully without complications. Operative time was 381 minutes; estimated blood loss was 50 mL. The patient was discharged after 2 days, her ureteral stent was removed in 8 weeks, and follow-up with furosemide-mercap-toacetyltriglycine (MAG-3) renal scan demonstrated 30% function without evidence of obstruction. Hand-assisted laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy with renal mobilization can be performed as definitive management of a medium-length proximal ureteral injury. This is the first case describing this management technique after lumbar disk surgery.