MANAGEMENT OF URETERAL CALCULI DURING PREGNANCY BY URETEROSCOPY AND LASER LITHOTRIPSY

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ureteric stone treatm ent by ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy during pregnancy. Patients a nd methods Four pregnant women (mean age 29.5 years, range 27-35) with five episodes of ureteric stones were treated by ureteroscopy and las er lithotripsy when the fetus was at 26-35 weeks of gestation. The sto nes (between 5 and 16 mm in diameter) were located in the proximal (on e) or distal ureter (four). Results All five stones were removed succe ssfully by ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. The operating time vari ed between 15 and 70 min. In two of the five cases, topical anaesthesi a was adequate and in no case was fluoroscopy necessary. No complicati ons occurred that could be related to the procedure. Conclusions Urete roscopy and laser lithotripsy seem, in experienced hands, to be a safe and reliable method in the treatment of ureteric calculi during pregn ancy. Most cases can be treated without using fluoroscopy and in some cases the operation can be performed under local anaesthesia.