Efficacy and safety of emergency ureteroscopic management of ureteral calculi.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ureteroscopic management of ureteral stones immediately after a first colic attack.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the data of 226 patients with obstructive ureteral stones who underwent ureteroscopy with stone retrieval. The 67 patients in group A underwent ureteroscopy within 48 hours of admission to our emergency department, whereas the 159 patients in group B underwent ureteroscopy more than 48 hours after admission. The chi-square test was used to evaluate and compare stone-free status, auxiliary procedures, and complications and the Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were used to analyze qualitative data.


RESULTS
Mean stone sizes in groups A and B were 2.41±1.62 mm and 4.11±2.64 mm, respectively. No patient experienced a major complication during or after the procedure. Stone-free rates were 89.55% and 89.93%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Emergency ureteroscopy in cases of obstructive ureteral stones is both safe and effective and offers the advantages of immediate stone fragmentation and the relief of acute-onset colic pain.
Department of Urology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jun Ho
JH
Youn
Sung Soo
SS
Kim
Ji Hyeong
JH
Yu
Luck Hee
LH
Sung
Choong Hee
CH
Noh
Jae Yong
JY
Chung