Minimally Invasive Surgery for the Treatment of Ureteric Stones – State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract

Radhika Bhanot,1 Patrick Jones,2,3 Bhaskar Somani1,3,4 1Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UK; 2Department of Urology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; 3EAU Young Academic Urology Urolithiasis and Endourology Working Party, Arnhem, the Netherlands; 4Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, IndiaCorrespondence: Bhaskar SomaniDepartment of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UKEmail [email protected]: The landscape of managing ureteric stones has evolved over the last few decades and several treatment options exist depending on the stone size, location, and other patient and stone factors. While open surgery is now rarely performed, the use of medical expulsive therapy (MET) has been controversial and perhaps only recommended for large distal ureteric stones. The mainstay treatment balances between shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopy (URS), with the latter usually recommended for larger stones. While the principles of ureteric stone management have remained largely unchanged, the modern era has generated new methods and means to deliver it. Advancements have occurred in all domains of endourology to try and refine treatment and balance it with cost, patient choice and quality of life. Dissemination of technologies and demonstration of their efficacy and safety will eventually result in new recommendations among international guidelines and evolution of new gold standards.Keywords: ureteroscopy, RIRS, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, kidney calculi, PCNL, SWL, ureteric stone

Keywords

• ureteroscopy
• rirs
• percutaneous nephrolithotomy
• kidney calculi
• pcnl
• swl
• ureteric stone