Ureter-iliac fistula: an unusual but potentially fatal cause of hematuria

Authors

  • Pedro Carrión-López Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • Óscar Legido-Gómez Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • María José Pedrosa-Jiménez Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • Lorena López-Martínez Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • Saúl Rico-Marco Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • Marta Victoria Lorenzo-Sánchez Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • Sonsoles Navarro-Jiménez Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • José Miguel Giménez-Bachs Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.
  • Antonio S. Salinas-Sánchez Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, España.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48193/revistamexicanadeurologa.v82i6.947

Keywords:

double J-stent, hematuria, Ureter-iliac fistula

Abstract

Description of clinical case: Three patients with urostomy and permanent double J-stent who had frank, acute and anemia hematuria are presented. All three had received radiotherapy for pelvic oncological pathology with subsequent performance of cystectomy and urostomy for severe radiation cystopathy. In no patient was the CT scan performed for the study of hematuria, requiring urgent arteriography and showing the presence of a ureter-iliac fistula (UIF) at the level of the left common iliac artery, right common iliac artery and right external iliac artery, respectively. After the placement of a covered iliac endovascular prosthesis, instant resolution of the clinical picture was achieved.

Relevance: FUI is an exceptional diagnosis requiring the experience of the urologist and the vascular radiologist. This situation can be potentially lethal when presenting a picture of acute frank hematuria and anemia.

Clinical implications: Suspecting an IUF, ureteral catheter manipulation should be performed in a catheterization room, where immediate arterial control with percutaneous vascular techniques is readily available. The performance of an arteriography should be immediate, avoiding the performance of a CT due to its low sensitivity.

Conclusion: Endovascular treatment with a covered stent is a safe and effective treatment for FUI.

References

Bergqvist D, Pärsson H, Sherif A. Arterio-ureteral fistula--a systematic review. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2001;22(3):191–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1053/ejvs.2001.1432

Tselikas L, Pellerin O, Di Primio M, Ben Arfi M, Joskin J, Beyssen B, et al. Uretero-iliac fistula: Modern treatment via the endovascular route. Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging. 2013;94(3):311–8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diii.2012.10.005

Palmerola R, Westerman ME, Fakhoury M, Boorjian SA, Richstone L. Ureteroarterial Fistulas After Robotic and Open Radical Cystectomy. Journal of Endourology Case Reports. 2016;2(1):48–51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/cren.2015.0034

Kamphorst K, Lock TMTW, van den Bergh RCN, Moll FL, de Vries J-PPM, Lo RTH, et al. Arterio-Ureteral Fistula: Systematic Review of 445 Patients. J Urol. 2022;207(1):35–43. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ju.0000000000002241

Das A, Lewandoski P, Laganosky D, Walton J, Shenot P. Ureteroarterial fistula: A review of the literature. Vascular. 2016;24(2):203–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1708538115585261

van den Bergh RCN, Moll FL, de Vries J-PPM, Lock TMTW. Arterioureteral fistulas: unusual suspects-systematic review of 139 cases. Urology. 2009;74(2):251–5. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2008.12.011

Heers H, Netsch C, Wilhelm K, Secker A, Kurtz F, Spachmann P, et al. Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcome of Arterioureteral Fistula: The Urologist’s Perspective. J Endourol. 2018;32(3):245–51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2017.0819

Pillai AK, Anderson ME, Reddick MA, Sutphin PD, Kalva SP. Ureteroarterial fistula: diagnosis and management. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2015;204(5):W592-598. doi: https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.14.13405

Hong S-Y, Noh M, Ko G-Y, Han Y, Kwon H, Kwon T-W, et al. Management Strategy for Ureteral-Iliac Artery Fistula. Ann Vasc Surg. 2016; 36:22–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2016.02.033

Lock TMTW, Kamphorst K, van den Bergh RCN, Moll FL, de Vries J-PPM, Lo RTH, et al. Arterio-ureteral fistula: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire analysis. World J Urol. 2022;40(3):831–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-021-03910-3

Kerns DB, Darcy MD, Baumann DS, Allen BT. Autologous vein-covered stent for the endovascular management of an iliac artery-ureteral fistula: case report and review of the literature. J Vasc Surg. 1996;24(4):680–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0741-5214(96)70084-8

Ormaechevarria Iturrizaga A, Fernández Fernández JC, Vega de Ceniga M, Blanco Larizgoitia J, Estallo Laliena L, Ormaechevarria Iturrizaga A, et al. Fístula ureteroiliaca como complicación de colocación de catéter JJ. Angiología. 2021;73(5):250–5. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.20960/angiologia.00308

Malgor RD, Oderich GS, Andrews JC, McKusick M, Kalra M, Misra S, et al. Evolution from open surgical to endovascular treatment of ureteral-iliac artery fistula. J Vasc Surg. 2012;55(4):1072–80. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2011.11.043

Published

2023-01-13

Issue

Section

Clinical cases