Transureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral calculi (report of 328 cases)

Objective To evaluate transureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral calculi. Methods 328 cases of ureteral calculi treated with urteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy from 2001 to 2005 were studied retrospectively. There were 188 male and 140 female patients with an average age of 38, 10 with upper ureteral stone, 96 with middle and 222 with lower ureteral stone, 11 ureteral stone street. Results The stone fragmentation rate was 88.5% (290/328). The main complications were failure to insert the ureteroscope in 13 cases and ureteral perforation in 6. 288 cases were follow-up for one to eighteen months and 266 cases were stone free in three months. No significant ureteral stricture has been observed on intravenous urogram. Conclusions Treatment of ureteral calculi by transureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy has been safe, effective and less invasive and should be the first choice to the patients with middle and low ureteral stones.