title: Bilateral single-session ureteroscopy with pneumatic lithotripsy for bilateral ureter stones: feasible and safe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the feasibility and safety of bilateral single-session ureteroscopy in the treatment of bilateral stones with different localizations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2001 and October 2006, a total of 1,296 patients underwent ureteroscopy with pneumatic lithotripsy. Of these, 38 patients (2.9%) had bilateral ureter stones. The stones were located in the lower, middle and upper ureter in 44 (57.9%), 21 (27.6%) and 11 (14.5%) of the cases, respectively. Fifty-one stones (67.1%) were less than 1 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 76 stones, 67 (88.1%) were fragmented in a single procedure. The stone clearance rate was 93.1% after the second session. According to the localization of the stones, the stone clearance rate after single endoscopic session was 72.7% for upper ureteral calculi, 80.9% for midureter and 95.4% for lower ureter stones. For patients with calculi less than 1 cm and greater than 1 cm, the initial stone-free rate after ureteroscopy was 94.1% (48 of 51) and 76% (19 of 25), respectively (p < 0.05). No major complication was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral single-session pneumatic lithotripsy can be performed safely and has high success rates with minimal morbidity and short hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Izmir Education and Teaching Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gunlusoy
authors.forename: Tansu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Degirmenci
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kozacioğlu
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nergiz
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minareci
authors.forename: Ali Riza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ayder