Endoscopic ureterolithotomy in large concrements of the upper third of the ureter

Endoscopic ureterolithotomy was made in 38 patients who had concrements in the upper third of the ureter more than 1 cm in size. Operations were retroperitoneoscopic and laparoscopic in 20 and 18 cases, respectively. Five patients had recurrent stones, 7 patients had prior extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, 2 patients failed contact ureterolithotripsy. In the rest cases endoscopic ureterolithotomy was a first-line treatment. A complete elimination of the stone was achieved in all the cases. Mean time of the operation in a retroperitoneoscopic approach was 149 min, in laparoscopic - 125 min. Mean blood loss was the same. Conversion was performed in one case in the group of retroperitoneal approach. Postoperative stay in hospital in retroperitoneo- and laparoscopic ureterolithotomy was 3 - 16 days. Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy produced a complication in one case - an insignificant injury of the colon. Urinous infiltration and pneumonia developed after retroperitoneoscopic ureterolithotomy in one and one case, respectively. Thus, endoscopic ureterolithotomy in large stones of the upper third of the ureter via retroperitoneal and transperitoneal approach is a safe, low-invasive and effective operation which provides complete stones elimination. Endoscopic ureterolithotomy should be done in uneffective first-line treatment. It is a leading method in the treatment of large and long-standing stones of the upper third of the ureter.

ureter, concrements, ureterolithotomy