[Gunshot injuries of the ureters--retrospective study of 12 patients over 27 years period].

AIM: To retrospectively study the gunshot injuries of the ureters, operated in the surgical departments of Military Medical Academy, Sofia and Medical Institute Ministry of Interior, Sofia for a period of 27 years.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: The gunshot injuries of the ureters of twelve patients are retrospectively studied in the period 1980 to 2007. For all patients the localization of the injuries, urinanalysis, imaging examination results, the associated injuries, the operative procedures and complications were reviewed.

RESULTS: All patients are males aged 19-28 years. Seven patients have right ureteral injuries and five have left ureteral inuries. In three patients the urinanalysis is normal, five have microscopic and four have gross hematuria. The injury is located in the proximal third of the urether for six patients, in four it is in the mid and in another two in the the distal ureter. Complications are registered in 40% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high ratio of false negative results from the urinanalysis and the imaging studies, careful and precise exploration of the retroperitoneum in order no to omit a possible injury of the ureters.