ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), retrograde ureterolithotripsy(URSL) and percutaneous ureterolithotripsy(PCL) in the treatment of proximal ureteral calculi. Methods A total of 397 patients with proximal ureteral calculi treated by ESWL,URSL or PCL ftom September 2001 to December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among 397 patients,83 patients with a mean stone size of 1.23 cm were treated by ESW L.Of then.13 patients transferred to URSL or ureterolithotomy and the stone-free rate of ESWL 1 month later was 65.7%(46/70).TWO hundred and thirteen patients with a mean stone size of 1.21 cm were treated by URSL and 101 patients with a mean stone size of 1.50 cm were treated by PCL.The stone-free rate of URSL and PCL 1 month after the treatment was 88.2%(172/195)and 96.9%(95/98),respectively.Eighteen patients in URSL group and 3 patients in PCL group trans-ferred to ureterolithotomy.ESWL had a statistically lower stone-free rate than that of URSL and PCL (P＜0.001),both in patients with stone size≤1 cm and＞1 cm.For patients with stone size＞1 cm,PCL achieved a higher stone-free rate than URSL(P=0.005).PCL also had a higher stone-free rate than URSL in treating patients with stone size≤1 cm but there was no statistical difference between them. Conclusions ESWL can still be used as first-line treatment choice for proximal ureteral stones less than 1cm.For patients with proximal ureteral stones larger than 1cm.URSL and PCL are more proper treatment modalities since they can achieve higher stone-free rate and have acceptable low complications.