Balloon dilation of the ureter: a means to facilitate passage of ureteral and renal calculi.
Dilation of the ureter with a balloon catheter, 20 cm. long and 6 mm. in diameter, passed over a guide wire introduced into the ureter in a retrograde or antegrade fashion has been followed by prompt painless passage of calculi as large as 6 mm. in diameter in 3 patients. Limited radiographic evaluation has revealed no significant sequelae. Our limited experience indicates that it is a safe and expedient method to facilitate passage of ureteral and renal calculi.
D000368:Aged; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014513:Ureter; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation