title: [Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy for upper ureteral calculus: 69 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the technical details of retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy and evaluate the clinical effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2004 and December 2008, 69 patients (55 males and 14 females) with upper ureteral calculus received retroperitoneal laparoseopic ureterolithotomy (40 left sides and 29 right sides). The stone size ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 cm [(2.2±0.6) cm].
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients underwent retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy. The operation time was 40-295 (63.1±19.8) min,and the blood loss was 30-150 (57.2±23.0) mL.The hospital stay was 5-8 (6.7±1.3) d. During the followup, there was neither ureteral stricture nor recurrent calculus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy is safe, effective and minimally invasive, which may replace the conventional open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Hongyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Hongqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiaokun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xuanzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult