ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Improving the success rate of ureteroscopic lithotripsy for proximal ureteral stones is the hot issue in this field. Here we reported our experience on the treatment of proximal ureteral stones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 2005 to 2010, 187 consecutive patients with proximal ureteral stones who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy were enrolled. The initial 52 patients treated by semi-rigid ureteroscope alone were classified as group 1. The subsequent 135 patients treated by semi-rigid ureteroscope with the aid of stone basket and flexible ureteroscope were classified as group 2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group 1, the overall stone-free rate was 67.3%. By a single procedure of ureteroscopic lithotripsy using a semi-rigid instrument, patients with ureteral stones below the 4th lumbar vertebra level achieved 91.7% stone-free rate, which was only 50% in patients with stones above the 4th lumbar vertebra level. Conversion to open surgery occurred in two patients since ureteral perforation was observed. In group 2, the stone-free rate achieved 93.2% with the aid of an N-Trap basket, which was significantly higher than that of patients without the aid of the basket (51.6%). Flexible ureteroscope was subsequently used in patients with fragment migration, thus making the overall success rate in group 2 increases to 97.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ureteroscopic lithotripsy is a safe and efficacious treatment for proximal ureteral stones. A single procedure of ureteroscopic lithotripsy using semi-rigid ureteroscope could achieve a satisfactory stone-free rate in patients with proximal ureteral stones below the 4th lumbar vertebra level. However, patients with ureteral stones above the 4th lumbar vertebra level experienced higher stone-migration rate, which would decrease the success rate. Fortunately, the stone-free state could possibly be achieved with the aid of an N-trap basket and flexible ureteroscope.</p>