Clinical experience with Ureteromat in transurethral ureterorenoscopy

Abstract

By September 1988, we performed 58 ureterorenoscopies (52 for primary ureteral calculi, 3 for ureteral biopsy, 2 for ureteral stricture and 1 for ureteral foreign body) using a Ureteromat (Uromat Storz, West Germany). Continuous saline irrigation with the Ureteromat has obviated mechanical dilation of the ureteral orifice in 93.1% of the cases, which made this endoscopy as easy as the conventional cystourethroscopy. In 4 cases (6.9%), however, balloon dilation of the ureteral orifice was necessary for the passage of a rigid ureterorenoscope. Of 52 ureteral calculi, 37 were assigned for transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL), whereas transurethral ureterorenoscopy (TUURS) was indicated to flush the remaining 15 calculi up into renal pelvis for later extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. TUL was successful in 81.1% (30/37). The causes of failure were stone migration in 6 cases and ureteral avulsion by electrohydraulic lithotripsy necessitating open surgery in 1 case. The irrigation with the Ureteromat facilitated the manipulation of intraluminal ureteral lesions always under clear vision; by-passing the impacted stone with a guide wire and flushing-up of the calculi were successfully performed in 100%, in spite of the co-existing edematous and inflammatory mucosal changes. In 7 cases where ureteroscope could not be advanced well up to the lesion because of spasm in the iliac ureter, the irrigation pressure was transiently increased up to 200 mmHg to allow safe and easy dislodgement of impacted calculi under fluoroscopic guidance. This procedure was also effective to introduced a ureteral stent over a guide wire in 2 cases of ureteral stricture, which could not be achieved by conventional cystoscopic procedure. Immediate postoperative complications were fever in 8.6% and gross hematuria lasting for more than 4 days in 8.6%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)