Combined removal of stones with resection of concurrent pathologic ureter may be a preferred treatment for impacted ureteral stones with stricture lesions.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated ureteral lesions associated with impacted stones and compared the long-term outcomes after ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) with a holmium laser with open ureterolithotomy, resection of concurrent pathologic ureter, and ureteroureterostomy (OUU) for patients with impacted ureteral stone.


METHODS
Between January 2004 and December 2007, 86 patients with impacted ureteral stones were treated with URSL (61) or OUU (25) because of tortuous ureter or failed access to stones. The stone size, location, impaction, ureteral lesions, and long-term outcomes were recorded.


RESULTS
Mean stone size for the URSL group and the OUU group was 11.8 +/- 2.6 mm and 15.3 +/- 4.2 mm, respectively (P = 0.078). The impaction duration was 8.5 +/- 1.1 months for the URSL group and 17.2 +/- 3.8 months for the OUU group (P < 0.001). Endoscopic observation revealed two types of ureteral lesions that were defined as villous or polypoid protrusion (type 1) and edematous hemispheric lesions (type 2). Stone-free rates for the URSL group and the OUU group were 91.8% and 100%, respectively (P = 0.140). URSL was associated with a higher incidence of stricture (26.2% v 4.0%; P = 0.019) and worse recovery of hydronephrosis (P < 0.001). Stricture occurred more frequently in patients with type II lesions in the URSL group (P = 0.022). Stone recurrence for the URSL group and the OUU group were 13.1% and 4%, respectively (P = 0.210).


CONCLUSIONS
Chronically impacted stones are frequently associated with ureteral polyp or stricture lesions. Our results reveal that combined removal of stones with resection of the pathologic ureter may achieve better long-term outcomes for patients with impacted stones with stricture lesions.
Xi
Qilin
Q
Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital of Taongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Wang
Shaogang
S
Ye
Zhangqun
Z
Liu
Jihong
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects