Management of ureteral calculi

Abstract

This is the fourth in a series of articles on an electronic survey of practicing urologists in the United States and elsewhere that concerns endourologic management of a variety of conditions. There were 416 e-mail responses to the survey, which was conducted in late 2007 and early 2008. The electronic mail lists of the American Urological Association and the Endourological Society were used. A little more than half of the respondents were from the United States, with 15% from Europe and 12% from Asia. Further details regarding the survey can be found in a previous publication.1 The present report focuses on questions from the survey that concern the treatment of patients with ureteral calculi: 1. Do you have access to the holmium laser for ureteroscopic stone treatment? (Answer choices, yes or no) 2. Which treatment would you recommend for an uncomplicated patient with a symptomatic distal ureteral stone that was 4 (or 8 or 15) mm? (Answer choices, ureteroscopic stone removal, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) or ureteral stent placement alone) 3. Which treatment would you recommend for an uncomplicated patient with a symptomatic midureteral stone that was 4 (or 8 or 15) mm? (Same answer choices as question 2) 4. Which treatment would you recommend for an uncomplicated patient with a symptomatic proximal ureteral stone that was 4 (or 8 or 15) mm? (Same answer choices as question 2