Flexible ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of refractory upper urinary tract stones.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of using flexible ureterorenoscopy for upper urinary tract stones. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients (13 females, 24 males, mean age 48 years, range 10-76) with upper urinary tract stones not responding to other treatments had their residual symptomatic stones treated through a 9.3 F flexible ureterorenoscope. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) was used to fragment the stones and a basket or a grasper used to retrieve the fragments. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were completely freed of stone and a further five had asymptomatic residual fragments of < 5 mm. Of 15 patients with ureteric stones, 14 were rendered stone-free at the end of the procedure and 14 of the 22 patients with kidney stones were treated successfully; 80% of the lower calyceal stones were treated successfully and a firm decision was possible on the further management of the remaining stones. There were no major complications. CONCLUSION: Flexible ureterorenoscopy should be considered in patients with symptomatic upper ureteric or renal stones refractory to other treatments, but the instrumentation is expensive and delicate, and its use should be reserved for such cases.