Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy

Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy

It is a kind of endoscopic treatment to treat ureter stones. Under general anesthesia, the ureteroscope will move via the urethra into the bladder and up the ureter. A laser fibre is utilized to break the stone into tiny pieces. These tiny stone pieces will pass out on their own. This surgery takes half an hour on an average and can be done as a day case.

The advantages of this method over ESWL is that even tough stones can be broken and the ureter opening is simultaneously widened by the scope to facilitate stone passage.

Ureteroscopy has been recognized as a leading method for treating ureteric calculi. The development of smaller and more adjustable ureteroscope and a new generation of various intracorporeal lithotripters has made this technique safer and stiffer. Recently ureteroscopy has been utilized to treat stones in the lower urinary tract as well as those in the upper tract.

In cases of an acute obstacle, a stent is used temporarily to modify the patient until definitive therapy. The stent is mostly placed if there is subsequent ureteral injury or in those with a residual stone after ureteroscopic lithotripsy.