title: [Hydraulic dilation (URETEROMAT): effective and safe ureteroscopy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After the description and standardization of the technique of ureteroscopy in 1979, several methods to obtain a nontraumatic, simple, efficient and fast ureteral access have been developed. The hydraulic expansion of the ureter was possible in 1986, with the development of ureteromat. We evaluate the effectiveness of hydraulic ureteral expansion (Ureteromat) for ureteral access and the later endoscopic procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The last 100 ureteroscopy carried out from February to October 2006 were evaluated. We used a semi-rigid 9.8 Fr. ureteroscope and hydraulic expansion (Ureteromat) was performed in the same way in all procedures since 1986.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total of cases, 92 were indicated for lithiasic pathology, 7 were exploratory and 1 for ureteral stricture. In 94 patients the procedure was carried out with hydraulic expansion alone, in 2 cases we used a balloon catheter, in 3 patients expansion of the meatus was done with forceps and 1 procedure was not possible due to an ureteral stop.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Ureteromat pump guarantees an excellent hydraulic expansion of the ureteral meatus and the passage of the intramural ureter. The visibility is very good at any moment of the procedure, making ureteroscopy a simple, effective, non traumatic and fast method.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Urologia, Clinica La Luz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cima
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Iglesias Prieto
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orozco Fariñas
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massarra Halabi
authors.forename: José Ma
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mancebo Gómez
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez-Castro Ellendt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020709:Ureteroscopes; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods*