Obstrucción ureteral

At Montefiore Einstein Urology, you can access exceptional care for ureteral obstructions. As a global leader in urology, we are an academic-based, national and international referral site for the most complex and high-risk cases. For more than a century, we have been at the forefront of innovation, research and clinical care for genitourinary (GU) conditions.

Montefiore Einstein se encuentra dentro del 1 % de los mejores hospitales del país en urología según U.S. News & World Report, y continúa impulsando el diagnóstico y tratamiento de las afecciones genitourinarias. Nuestro equipo multidisciplinario de especialistas de renombre mundial trabaja con pasión para descubrir los enfoques diagnósticos y tratamientos más novedosos que pueden mejorar los resultados.

En el Departamento de Urología de Montefiore Einstein, ofrecemos planes de tratamiento compasivos, personalizados y basados en la investigación que cumplen con los más altos estándares de calidad y seguridad. Además, ponemos a disposición de los pacientes una amplia gama de servicios de apoyo, que van desde la orientación nutricional hasta las terapias de rehabilitación.

When you need ureteral obstruction care, turn to our dedicated multidisciplinary team for a personalized treatment plan.

Ureteral obstructions have a wide range of causes, including:

• A congenital condition causing two ureters to form on the same kidney
• coágulos de sangre
• Cancerous and noncancerous tumors 
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Internal tissue growth
• Kidney stones
• Long-term swelling of the ureter wall
• Obstruction at the point where the ureter connects to the kidney or bladder, hindering urine flow
• Ureterocele: a narrow ureter causing a small bulge to develop and block urine flow
• Retroperitoneal fibrosis: a rare disorder causing fibrous tissue to grow behind the abdomen. The fibers encircle and block the ureters, causing urine to back up into the kidneys.

Symptoms of ureteral obstruction vary depending on the underlying cause and may include:  

• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Dificultad para orinar
• Fever, nausea or vomiting
• Micción frecuente
• Pain in the abdomen, lower back or sides 
• Recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Swollen leg(s)

Ureteral obstruction is diagnosed with a complete physical examination and tests to confirm the diagnosis, including: 

• Blood tests and urinalysis to assess kidney function or identify infection 
• Computed tomography (CT) scan to provide detailed images of the urinary tract and to detect kidney stones, tumors or other obstructions
• Cystoscopy (used if other tests don’t provide a clear diagnosis): The urologist inserts a hollow tube equipped with a lens into the urethra and bladder.  
• Ultrasound to capture a detailed picture of the kidneys, bladder and ureters

Treatment for ureteral obstruction depends on the underlying cause and includes:

• Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications: prescribed if the obstruction is caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI) or inflammation 
• Ureteral stent: a thin, flexible tube inserted into the ureter to bypass the obstruction and allow urine to drain from the kidney to the bladder. This procedure is often performed as a temporary measure to relieve symptoms.
• Nephrostomy tube: a tube inserted directly into the kidney to drain urine into a drainage bag outside the body
• Surgery: may be necessary to remove the underlying cause of the obstruction. Procedures include ureteroscopy, lithotripsy (breaking up kidney stones with sound waves) or open surgery.