RIGID URETEROSCOPY - REPORT OF 88 CASES

Rigid ureteroscopy has become a common tool for the diagnosis and mana gement of several diseases of the upper urinary tract. Between April 1 990 and April 1996, 92 ureteroscopy procedures were performed in 88 pa tients in the B Urology Department of Avicennes hospital for diagnosti c or therapeutic purposes. The commonest therapeutic procedure was sto ne manipulation (72 cases). The overall success rate was 90.8% (Distal ureter : 89.6%, mid ureter : 80%, lumbar ureter : 100%) and the compl ication rate was 4%. Therapeutic ureteroscopy was also used to dry ure terovaginal fistula (4 cases) and ureteral fistula with retroperitonea l urinoma (2 cases), and to remove a double J stent which had migrated into the pelvic ureter (3 cases). Diagnostic ureteroscopy was perform ed for 7 ureteral strictures including 3 extrinsic compressions and 4 ureteral strictures all treated with dilatations after biopsy. One fal se passage was observed among diagnostic ureteroscopy procedures. Rigi d ureteroscopy is a minimally invasive and reliable technique for the management of ureteric calculi and for the diagnosis and treatment of other ureteric lesions.