Treatment of renal pelvic calculi using the rigid ureterorenoscope

Ten patients with renal pelvic stones were treated by rigid ureterorenoscopy. Ultrasound lithotriptor and biopsy forceps were used for disintegrating the stones. The stones of 5 patients were disintegrated into small fragments that passed spontaneously within 2 months after the procedure. The stones of 2 failed to disintegrate for migration of the stones into the calices. Retention of the large fragments in the calices occurred in 3 patients. Residual fragments of urate were dissolved completely by urine alkalinization 5 months later in 1 patient. In another patient the fragment had fallen into the ureter and it was extracted by ureterorenoscopy 8 months later. After all, the success rate was 70% in this series. The disintegration of stones in the small intrarenal pelvis has proved to be difficult when they are approached by retrograde ureterorenoscopy. There were 2 complications of ureterorenoscopy: extravasation of urine from the renal sinus, and from the upper ureter. These minor injuries were treated by stenting without sequelae.