should we abandon using semirigid ureteroscopes and pneumatic lithoclast?
Public health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. alaaawny@hotmail.com. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: The AUA/EAU Ureteral Stones Guideline Panel reported that the stone free rate for the proximal ureteral stones is around 81% when treated by either SWL or ureteroscopy (URS).Complication rates, most notably ureteral perforation and long-term complications of URS such as stricture formation rates, have been reduced to < 5%. Moreover, impacted ureteral calculi are more difficult to fragment with SWL because of the lack of natural expansion space for stones, this result in a situation that is better managed by ureteroscopy. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and complications of impacted upper ureteral stone disintegration using semirigid ureteroscopes and pneumatic lithotripsy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 267 consecutive patients with impacted upper ureteral stones (9-20 mm) who were treated by
