title: Experience on semirigid ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy in children at a single center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ureteroscopy in children with miniaturized instruments is becoming popular with the advent of pediatric ureteroscopes and laser lithotriptors. We had been performing pediatric ureteroscopies with a 7.5 Fr. semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor, used in adults as well. Herein, we present our experience in pediatric ureteroscopy with a semirigid 7.5 Fr. ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor with a specific focus on changes in success and complication rates with time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients younger than 18 years old who underwent ureteroscopic intervention with a 7.5 Fr. semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor at our institute between January 2000 and September 2009. Patient characteristics were recorded including date of surgery, age, sex, stone size and location, ureteroscopy technique, duration of surgery, the result of surgery, complication, postureteroscopy ureteral stenting, follow-up duration and final imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 children (28 boys, 20 girls) with a mean age of 7.6 years (range: 9 months-18 years) have undergone 54 ureteroscopic intervention. Thirty-eight (79.1%) children were <10 years of age and 17 (35.4%) were <4 years of age. Stone-related ureteroscopy number was 51. Mean stone diameter was 6.6 mm (4-20 mm). Mean duration of surgery was 77 min (25-150 min). Overall success rate was 84.3%, and overall complication rate was 14.8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ureteroscopic management of ureteral stones is safe and effective in children >1 year of age with a 7.5 Fr. semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Dumlupinar Bulvari, 07059, Antalya, Turkey. drsyucel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Yigit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kol
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danisman
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guntekin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020709:Ureteroscopes; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*