Sacral Hitch Vesical Pexy. A new Ancillary Technique for Ureteroneocystostomy

Abstract

To describe the Sacral Hitch, vesical pexys to sacral promontory, an alternative technique to the Psoas Hitch when this is impossible to perform. We report intraoperative complications, and long-term functional results. From 1989 to date we performed 66 ureteroneocystostomies (UNCS) (transbladder technique and Politano-Leadbetter antireflux plasty): 51 with ancillary "Psoas Hitch" (11 Casati-Boari); 15 with "Sacral Hitch" because of the intraoperative finding of deficiency or lack of psoas tendon. Note of technique. Ureter and bladder are dissected as usual. Sacral Hitch: left lateralization of sigmoid and exposition of sacral promontory; longitudinal incision and divarication of peritoneum; smooth dissection of fat tissue, displacement of medium sacral vessels and visualization of neurovascular bundles. Direct fixation of the dome/posterior aspect of bladder to anterior longitudinal ligament above promontory. Among the patients who underwent the Psoas Hitch technique, 3 (5.4%) showed hypoesthesia, acute pain and impossible flexion of the thigh on hip with EMG positive for femoral (1) and genito-femoral (2) neuropathy. The re-operation in 2 cases solved the symptoms. One case resolved conservatively with corticoids, tricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline) and antiepileptics (gabapentin). Mean follow-up was 115 months (8-252); two stenosis of anastomosis. Sacral Hitch: (15 pts), mean follow-up: 47 months (range 4-110), no stenosis of anastomosis 0%; transfusion rate 0%. The psoas tendon deficiency or its congenital absence (children or women) requires the direct fixation to the muscle, an inadequate and weak target and housing of important sensitive-motor nerves (Genito-femoral, femoral and latero-cutaneous). A "Psoas-Syndrome" could be present in 5.1% and a re-operation could be necessary. The sacral promontory represents an affixation target already successfully adopted in other surgery specialties (Gynaecology, Orthopaedic and General Surgery) and gives to UNCS a stiffness plate and an effective bladder cranialization. CONCLUSIONS. Sacral Hitch Vesical Pexys represents an ancillary procedure to UNCS and surgeons should keep it in mind in cases of difficult finding of the psoas muscle tendon.