Role of ultrasonography in the follow-up of surgically treated patients. Upper urinary tract. Complications after conservative surgery

The Authors describe the purposes of ultrasonographic follow-up after both conservative surgery and endoscopic or endourological operations of the upper urinary tract. In these cases ultrasonography evaluates the results of normal surgery, the presence of early or late complications, and of iatrogenic lesions. The echo-patterns of deformations in the outline of the kidneys, of hematic, urinary or lymphatic collections (both retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal), of fistulas, of sclero-lipomatosis and of post-cicatrization hydronephrosis are described. The importance of evaluating the degree of obstruction by a dynamic ultrasonographic study with furosemide-test is emphasized. The ultrasonographic monitoring of urethral and pyelostomy setting of catheters is also described. The echo-patterns of retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal fluid collections and renal hematomas, in relation also the kind of fluid contained are widely discussed.