Dismembered pyeloplasty in children with and without stents

Objectives: To assess the benefit of performing nonstented pyeloplasty in infants. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive pyeloplasties were performed by two surgeons using different techniques, from 1987 to 1992. One used stents in all cases (23) and the other performed a nonstented anastomosis with external drainage (25 cases). Patients with specific indications for internal drainage, i.e. poor renal function, extreme pyelocaliectasis, were excluded from the study. Parameters of cost and complications were assessed. Results: The group with stents had more febrile episodes, needed more antibiotics and were hospitalized twice as long as the nonstented group. Pre- and postoperative renal function was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Performing pyeloplasties in children without stenting the anastomosis is safe and cost-effective.