[Complications of uretero-renoscopy].
BACKGROUND
Since its clinical introduction ureteroscopy (URS) has experienced an impressive development due to the technical improvements of new and smaller urological armamentarium. Currently, ureteroscopy is a worldwide procedure with a varied number of diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities. However, the technique has complications.


METHODS
We analyse the complications of URS in a series of 4.645 ureteroscopic procedures performed from january 1990 to december 2001, 2972 (64%) female and 1673 (36) male. The objectives of URS were diagnostic (haematuria) and therapeutic (ureteral stones, tumors, strictures and placement of stents).


RESULTS
Fever was the most frequent complication (11.7%), with sepsis in 15 patients. Another complications were: ureteral perforation (1.2%), ureteral avulsion (0.06%), renal injury (0.04%), extrusion (0.4%) and uretero-iliac fistulae (0.02%). The most common treatment was conservative with endourological approach.


CONCLUSIONS
Carefully performed ureteroscopy is a superb tool for the urologist either for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes with a low ratio of complications. The majority of these complications can be solved with conservative management.
Alapont Alacreu
J M
JM
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia.
Broseta Rico
E
E
Pontones Moreno
J L
JL
Oliver Amorós
F
F
Palmero Martí
J L
JL
Boronat Tormo
F
F
Jiménez Cruz
J F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D014513:Ureter / Q000293:injuries; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*