Background: This study was undertaken to assess the effect of antegrade placement of internal double-J catheters for patients who underwent open pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction.

Methods: Medical records of unilateral dismembered pyeloplasties of 71 patients with UPJ obstruction treated between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. In all patients, a double-J catheter was placed in an antegrade fashion during the operation. The patients were reviewed in terms of age, sex, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay

Results: All children but one using double-J catheter were discharged within 24 hours after the operation. Neither urinary leak nor re-obstruction occurred in the operated kidneys during a follow-up.

Conclusion: Transanastomotic stenting with double-J catheter is recommended as the reasonable mode of drainage in open pyeloplasty in pediatric patients.

Key words: double-J catheter; pyeloplasty; ureteropelvic junction

                  World J Pediatr 2010;6(3):271-273