Introduction and Objectives
To determine whether the stone location affects the stone-free rates of ureteroscopic pneumolitotripsy.
Material and Methods
From January 2000 to June 2008, 632 patients with 658 stones, ranging from 5 to 12mm in size, underwent ureteroscopy (URS) with pneumolithotripsy. The patients were followed up preoperatively and postoperatively with noncontrast spiral computed tomography, abdominal plain radiography, renal ultrasonography, or intravenous pyelography. Patients were considered to have been treated successfully if they had no residual stones.
Results
A total of 658 ureteroscopy and pneumolithotripsy were performed on 226 female and 406 male, as a total 632 patients. Thirty-three stones were localized in proximal, 230 in the middle and 395 in the distal ureter. Of these, 575 (83%) were successfully treated with pneumolithotripsy without residual fragments. 52 patients (17%) had persistent stones that were treated by repeat ureteroscopy and pneumolithotripsy or with ESWL. Twenty-five (75%) of 33 upper ureter stones were cleared, 195 (85%) of 230 middle ureter stones were cleared, and 355 (90%) of 395 lower ureter stones were cleared. The residual stones were evaluated by abdominal plain radiography or noncontrast spiral computerized tomography in the postoperative first day and tenth day.
Conclusions
The results of our study have shown that stone location does not significantly affect stone clearance rates when performing ureteroscopic pneumolithotripsy.
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Identification
Copyright
© 2009 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
