Stones of the upper urinary tract. Update on minimal-invasive endourological treatment.
So far extracorporal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is the treatment of choice for upper urinary tract stones. Since the introduction of new minimal-invasive endourological procedures, such as retrograde flexible uretero-renoscopy (fURS) and minimal-invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (Mini-Perc), alternative treatment modalities are available, which show enhanced stone-free rates and decreased treatment morbidity even in unfavorable stone localizations of the lower calix and calyceal diverticulum stones. In experienced hands modern endourological approaches are suitable as first-line treatment of upper urinary tract stones. Even in elderly patients and large stone burden the endourological techniques show acceptable results.
Department of Urology, Hospital St. Trudpert, Pforzheim, Germany. sven.lahme@trudpert.de
Sven
S
Lahme
Volker
V
Zimmermanns
Andreas
A
Hochmuth
Peter
P
Liske
D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000379:methods; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D018666:Ureteroscopy; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000628:therapy