Pneumatic ureteroscopic lithotripsy: is it still a reasonable treatment option for multiple ureteric stones?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and safety of ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy for multiple ureteric stones.


METHODS
36 patients with multiple ureteric stones were treated with ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL). A 8/9.8-Fr Wolf semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotripter were used for stone fragmentation.


RESULTS
87 stones were treated with URSL. Successful fragmentation was achieved in 77 (88.5%) of the stones. The retreatment rate was 11.5%. The stone-free rate (SFR) of lower ureteric stones (93.3%) and middle ureteric stones (87.5%) was significantly higher compared with upper (73.3%) ureteric stones (p < 0.05). For patients with stones less than 1 cm and greater than 1 cm, the SFR was 91.5 and 75.0%, respectively (p < 0.05). Perforation occurred in 1 patient, mucosal injury occurred in 5 and stone migration in 5. No long-term complication was observed in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy is still a reasonable treatment option for multiple ureteric stones. The procedure has high success rates with minimal morbidity. However, success rate can be affected by stone size and ureteric location.
Department of Urology, Ministry of Health, Diyarbakır Education and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey. kenanisen @ hotmail.com
Kenan
K
Isen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects