Your ureter is the tube that runs from your kidney to your bladder. If part of this tube is narrowed, it is called a ureteral stricture. Ureteral strictures can be caused by:
- Congenital (at birth) defects
- Traumatic injury to the pelvis
- Kidney stones
- Scars from surgery
- Tumors in the pelvis or abdomen that put pressure on the ureter
The narrowed tube causes urine to back up into the kidney, putting you at risk of kidney pain, urinary tract infections, or even kidney damage. The expert urologists at the University of Miami Health System can help restore urine flow through the ureter.
Treatments
Stenting
Your urologist inserts a catheter (a thin tube) through your urethra (opening where urine leaves your body) and bladder, then into the ureter. They can then place a stent (a wire mesh tube) into the ureter to hold it open and allow urine to flow through. The stent may need to be replaced every six months to a year.
Robotic Surgery
Advanced robotic surgery technology allows your doctor to use a few small incisions to reconstruct the ureter and reconnect it to your kidney. This surgical approach has less scarring and pain than traditional open surgery.
Tests
Urine Tests
Your doctor may take a sample of your urine to look for causes and symptoms of urinary tract problems.
Ultrasound
Your doctor may use a noninvasive ultrasound to examine your kidneys and ureter.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
Before a CT scan, your doctor might inject a dye into your body. The dye will help your doctor see your ureter and the fluid that flows through it.
Ureteroscopy
During a ureteroscopy, your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end through the urethra, up through the bladder, and into your ureter to examine the stricture.
Why Choose UHealth?
Innovative, expert urology care at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. Our team of urology experts delivers advanced care for all urologic conditions. We use the latest research and the least invasive procedures to help you feel better and recover more quickly. Our experienced urologists design a personalized treatment plan to give you the best possible results.
Leaders in robotic surgery treatment. We have some of the world’s most experienced robotic surgeons for urologic procedures. In fact, doctors come from all over the world to learn at our Urology Robotic Program — the #1 ranked program in South Florida. The University of Miami Health System was the first academic medical center in the world to get the da Vinci Xi robotic surgery system and has completed more than 5,000 robotic surgeries — procedures that offer less pain and scarring and a faster recovery.
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