We treated 208 patients with ureteral calculi via transurethral lithotripsy using the rigid ureteroscope between March 1985 and April 1988. A total of 220 ureteroscopic procedures was performed in 217 ureters. Complete removal was achieved after 180 procedures (81.8%) and incomplete removal was achieved after 9 (4.1%). In 31 cases (14.1%) the stone could not be removed because of various reasons. Ureteral disruption was observed in 1 case (0.5%), which was treated successfully with reconstruction. Ureteral perforation occurred in 15 cases (6.8%) and was treated successfully except for 1 patient (0.5%) in whom ureteral stricture was observed requiring reconstruction. From long-term followup of sequential excretory urography and voiding cystography, mild stricture at the vesical end of the ureter was noted in 3 of 86 ureters (3.5%) and vesicoureteral reflux was noted in 7 of 73 (9.6%). These results indicate that the injury to the intramural ureter might arise from the passage of the ureteroscope resulting in stricture and vesicoureteral reflux.
Long-term follow-up and extensive studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure. It might provide shorter duration of an indwelling catheter and earlier recovery of normal micturition as compared with the conventional open surgery.
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