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Blind-ending bifid ureter mimicking stone obstruction during emergency urinary drainage: A case report

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: A blind-ending bifid ureter is a rare congenital urinary tract anomaly. A 63-year-old woman with obstructive pyelonephritis due to a right ureteral stone underwent emergency urinary drainage. Retrograde pyelography demonstrated contrast opacification only up to the right upper ureter, and a guidewire failed to advance beyond the upper ureter. Percutaneous nephrostomy was therefore performed. During subsequent transurethral ureterolithotripsy, ureteroscopy revealed that the guidewire had entered a blind-ending branch, while the stone was located within the ureteral branch communicating with the renal pelvis. A blind-ending bifid ureter may mimic ureteral obstruction caused by ureteral stones and complicate transurethral urinary drainage.

Source: Urology Case Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.eucr.2026.103654

Authors: Yukino Hasegawa, Junki Harada, Itsuho Ito, Yuichiro Nakamura, Kensuke Mitsunari, Ryoichi Imamura

Institution: Nagasaki University

Language: English

Topic: Kidney Stones and Urolithiasis Treatments

Subfield: Urology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,160