Clinical analysis of ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral stones

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of pneumatic lithotripsy under ureteroscope in the treatment of ureteral stones. Methods A total of 317 cases of ureteral stones treated with ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy from January 2004 to January 2010 in our hospital were analysed retrospectively. Results Of 296 sides were treated successfully with the cure rate of 89.97%, and the rate of intraoperative complication was 1.22% (4/329), the total stone-free rate was 97.30% (288/296) in successful cases. There was no statistical difference between the group with stone size ≤1 cm and 1 cm in the curative rate and stone-free rate(P0.05). The group with stone size 1 cm achieved a higher rate of intraoperative complications than that with stone size ≤1 cm for upper ureteral stones, but there was no statistical difference between them for the middle and lower ureteral stones(P0.05). Conclusions The treatment of ureteral stones with ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy was safe, effective and less invasive. This method should be a good choice for patients with mid-lower ureteral stones and the patients with ureteral stones who failed in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.