Flexible Ureteroscopy and Laser Lithotripsy for Renal Calculi:Report of 338 Cases / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the flexible ureteroscopy and Holmium and FREDDY laser lithotripsy for renal calculi at various locations.Methods From May 2002 to May 2007,338 cases of renal calculi(sized less than 20 mm in diameter)were treated by flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy in our hospital.The data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Among the cases,the calculi were located at the upper or middle calyx or the renal pelvis in 288 patients,at the lower calyx in 37,and in multiple calyxes in 13.All the patients received KUB and IVU before the procedures.With the TerumoTM settled in place,a F8/9.8 Wolf rigid ureteroscope was inserted to observe and dilate the ureteral lumen.Then,an Olympus P3 6.9F flexible ureteroscope was used.When the insertion of the rigid ureteroscope was difficult,a re-ureteroscopy would be tried 2 weeks later with a pig-tail stent in place.The WOM U-100 FREDDY laser and the Lumenis Holmium laser were used to perform the procedure and a pig-tail stent would be set at the end of the procedure.The urethral catheter was removed in the first postoperative day and an intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis was administrated during the first 2 days postoperatively.A follow-up by KUB or non-contrast CT scan was done 4 weeks after the procedure to evaluate the result of the endoscopic nephrolithotripsy.Any residual calculi larger than 4 mm in diameter was taken significant.Results In 28 patients the rigid ureteroscope or the ureteral sheath couldn't be inserted in the first time,and the success rate of the ureteroscopic insertion was 91.7%(310/338).The re-ureteroscopy was successful in the patients after 2 weeks.The calculi were detected in 97.3%(329/338)of the patients,and the procedures succeeded in 306 of them(306/329,93.0%).The success rate of laser nephrolithotomy was 78.0%(32/41)for the lower calyx calculi,which was significantly lower than that for the middle,upper calyxes or renal pelvic calculi 95.1%(274/288),?2=13.601,P=0.000].After 4 weeks,the total evacuation rate of the calculi was 87.6%(296/338).For the calculi in the upper or middle pole or in the renal pelvis,the complete evacuation rate was 90.1%(264/293),which was significantly higher than that for the lower pole 71.1%(32/45),?2=12.929,P=0.000].No patient had ureteric perforation or active bleeding after the surgery.The mean operation time was 35 min(12-55 min).After the operation,11 cases developed nephritic colic.None of them had septicemia or acute renal failure.Gross hematuria disappeared in 1-2 days postperation.Conclusions The flexible ureteroscopy and Holmium and FREDDY laser lithotripsy are safe and effective for renal calculi sized less than 20 mm in diameter,especially for those in the upper,middle poles and renal pelvis.A re-ureteroscopy with the pig-tail stent in place is suggested in two weeks after the failure of the first procedure.