Causes or Failure and Complications of Ureteroscopic Removal of Stone

Yang, Jae Jun; Park, Hae Young; Lee, Tchun Yong

Abstract

Ureteroscopic management of ureteral calculi is an established successful technique with low complication. We performed 140 ureteroscopies for stone removal from January 1990 to April 1995. The stone were removed successfully in 131 cases (94%), and complication occurred in 37 cases (27%). In 9 cases, complete removal of stone was failed due to upward migration of stone (3 cases), not mobilization of stone (3 cases), inability to introduce ureteroscope into the intramural ureter (2 cases), inadequate illumination due to bleeding (1 case). Complications of ureteroscopic removal of stone were ureteral perforation (8 cases), tearing of ureteral mucosa (5 cases), gross hematuria (19 cases), infection (3 cases) and fever (2 cases). All complications were treated successfully with conservative treatment. We conclude that ureteroscopic removal of stone is still primary useful treatment of middle and lower ureteral stones and can be done safely if certain guide lines such as proper selection of patient, adequate use of lithotriptor, careful dilatation of ureteral orifice are kept strictly.