title: Evaluation of ureteral stent placement after retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for upper ureteral stone: randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the necessity of ureteral stent placement after retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (RLU) for upper ureteral stones more than 1 cm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2006 and May 2009, 104 RLUs were performed as primary management of large upper ureteral stones. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: In group 1 (52 patients), RLU was performed without stent placement afterward, and in group 2 (52 patients), the stent was placed after RLU. The mean stone size was 16.8 cm in group 1 and 18.2 cm in group 2. The stent in group 2 was placed cystoscopically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were performed successfully. The mean operative time was 48 minutes in group 1 vs. 65 minutes in group 2. The mean drainage time was 4.1 days in group 1 vs. 2.3 days in group 2. All the patients were followed up for a period of 6 months with no recorded cases of residual stone or ureteral stricture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RLU for large upper ureteral stones could be considered as a primary line for treatment as regards the economic status in developing countries. Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (LU) without stent placement for upper ureteral stones is safe, cost effective, has less operative time, and needs no auxiliary procedures when compared with the use of stent placement after LU, which adds costs and discomfort for the patient.
authors: Department of Urology, Sohag University Hospital , Sohag, Egypt. a.hammady@gmail.com
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Hammady
authors: Wael Mohamed
authors: WM
authors: Gamal
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Zaki
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Hussein
authors: Abdelmonem
authors: A
authors: Abuzeid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014513:Ureter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014567:Urography; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*