Ureteroscopic Stone Removal: Efficacy, Safety and Skilled Experience of the Surgeon

Kim, Joon Yong; Shim, Bong Suk

Abstract

PURPOSE: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of ureteroscopic stone removal at our hospital and defined the efficacy, safety and the skilled experience of the surgeon.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ureteroscopic stone removal was done in 510 cases. Sixty eight stones were located in the upper ureter, 114 stones in the mid ureter, and 328 stones in the lower ureter. The stone size was less than 5mm in 210 cases, from 5 to 10mm in 241 cases and more than 10mm in 59 cases. The objective cases were categorized into three groups according to the experience of the surgeon, and then compared to each group.
RESULTS
The overall success rate was 94.5%. The success rates of upper, mid and lower ureteral stones were 86.7, 90, and 96.9%. The success rate was 95.7% in stones less than 5mm, 94.1% in 5 to 10mm and 91.5% in more than 10mm. The operation results were improved and stabilized after 50 cases. There were 48 cases (9.4%) of complications which were treated successfully with conservative treatment except for 2 cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the ureteroscopic stone removal technique of the surgeon is improving by accumulating operation experience, and stabilized skillful technique will be achieved after experience of more than 50 cases.