Korean J Urol.
2002 Jul;43(7):551-555.
Flexible Ureterorenoscopy in the Upper Urinary Tract Diseases
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hhkim@snu.ac.kr
Abstract
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PURPOSE: We report our experience using flexible ureteroscopy in diagnosing and treating upper urinary tract diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty six patients (male 35; female 21) who underwent flexible ureteroscopy for diagnostic purposes (n=24) or treatment (n=32) of upper urinary tract diseases from January 2000 to November 2001 were enrolled in this study. The primary indications for the ureteroscopy included stones (32), filling defects (10), stricture (8) and hematuria (6). A 7.5Fr flexible ureteroscope was used for observation and either an electrohydraulic lithotriptor (EHL) or Ho: YAG laser were used to remove the stones.
RESULTS
The ureteroscopic procedures were performed under local (n=46) or general anesthesia (n=10). As a diagnostic procedure (n=24), clear underlying causes were found in 19 patients. As therapeutic purposes, the flexible ureteroscopic procedures were applied to 32 patients with urolithiasis (renal calyx, 14; renal pelvis, 6; proximal ureter, 7; and middle ureter, 5). Among them, an advancement in flexible ureteroscopy was possible in 24 patients. Of these, the stones in 20 (83%) had completely fragmented by the EHL or Ho: YAG laser lithotriptor without further treatment. In 4 patients (17%) who had residual stones, the adjuvant procedures including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or a subsequent endoscopic procedure were performed for successful fragmentation.
CONCLUSIONS
The flexible ureteroscopic procedure is one of the more effective and minimally traumatic diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for upper urinary tract diseases.
