Ureteroscopic Treatment for Lower Ureteral Calculi

Abstract

Ureteroscopic management as a primary treatment for lower ureteral calculi was assessed. From August 1994 through December 1995, 62 cases treated ureteroscopically in 60 consecutive patients with lower ureteral stones were evaluated. Complete stone removal was achieved in 58 cases (93.5%). In 50 cases treated with Swiss Lithoclast lithotriptor, stones were well fragmented and extracted without difficulties. Either size or shape of stone seldom had influence on success rate. In 8 cases, stones were relatively small and able to be removed only with stone grasping forceps or Dormia stone baskets. There were five complications which were minor and treated conservatively. These observations show that ureteroscopic stone manipulation with lithotriptor deserves to be a primary treatment modality for lower ureteral stones in view of remarkable efficacy, negligible complication rate.