Objective: To estimate an experience of our first ureteroscopic procedures.
Material and methods: The data of 65 patients, who underwent ureteroscopy in Klaipeda Hospital during period 2000 August - 2002 February were analyzed. The indications were: obstructive ureteral stones after not successful extracorporeal lithotripsy, rigid ureteral stones, radionegative ureteral stones and ureteral strictures. The procedures were performed mostly in general, less in spinal anesthesia. The operations were completed on average within 120 minutes. The whole procedure was performed in double visual and radiologic correction. In 42.3 percent of cases there was performed only lithextraction, in other 42.3 percent of cases pneumatic lithotripsy and lithextraction, the remainder underwent for fixing with Dormia basket, pneumatic lithtripsy and lithextraction.
Results: There were 65 ureteroscopies performed, of them 59 cases for the reason of ureterolithiasis. The overall success rate for ureterolithiasis was 92.3 percent. Two cases were transformed in open operation. All patients received postoperative stenting, which lasted from 3-4 days to several weeks. The required hospitalization after ureteroscopy was on average 4.7 days. No serious operative and postoperative complications were noticed.
Conclusions: Ureteroscopy -minimally invasive, effective and comparatively safe method of treatment for complicated ureterolithiasis. This may be second - line treatment of ureteral stones after extracorporeal lithotripsy and even the choice of first line of treatment in some cases. An experience of surgeon is very definitive.