Ureteric Injuries after Hysterectomy in a Tertiary Care Center of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic surgery is the most common cause of iatrogenic ureteral injury. The incidence of ureteric injuries varies between skilled and inexperienced surgeons. The study aims to determine the prevalence of ureteric injuries sustained during hysterectomy in a tertiary care center of Nepal.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving the women attending the gynecological outpatient department of a tertiary care center of Nepal, for various benign and malignant conditions and later on underwent hysterectomy from June 2019 to June 2020 was done after obtaining ethical clearence from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference No. 245). Convenient sampling method was used. The data were entered in Excel and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.

Results: Altogether, 1 (0.63%) (0.55-0.71 at 95% Confidence Interval) out of 159 patients sustained the ureteric injury during hysterectomy in a tertiary care center of Nepal. The injury was seen during the exploratory laparotomy for adnexal mass. The injury was recognized intraoperatively and was repaired with double J stenting. A total of 159 patients were enrolled in the study that had undergone hysterectomy over one year for various benign and malignant conditions. Out of which 21 (13.2%) had undergone surgeries for malignant conditions and 138 (86.79%) for benign conditions.

Conclusions: Iatrogenic ureteric is still a major cause of harm and concern in hysterectomy. Patients with ureteric injury should be evaluated and intervened at the earliest.