Ureteroscopy: results and complications

ABSTRACT

In the period from July 1989 to December 1993, a total of 272 ureteroscopic procedures were performed in 258 patients. Indications of ureteroscopy included ureteric stones in 243 patients and ureteric strictures in 15. Successful stone removal or fragmentation was obtained in 216 patients [88.8% of stone group]. Failure occurred in 27 patients, failure to pass the ureteroscope via the ureteric orifice in 3 patients, stone migration in 7 patients, second session procedure in 14 and ureterovesical reimplantation in 3. Complications occurred in 37 patients, 8 major and 29 minor. Major complications included severe ureteric trauma requiring immediate surgery in 3 and delayed ureteric strictures in 5. Ureteric stricture was treated by transureteroscopic lateral or medial ureterotomy followed by balloon dilatation. The later procedure was successful in 7 patients [46.6% of the stricture group]. One patient had total anuria, 2 weeks postureterotomy. These results indicated that ureteroscopy is very valuable tool to urologists, particularly if complete set up of lithotriptors and ureteroscopes are available