Does ureteroscopy still have a place in the treatment of ureteric stones?

Objectives: To evaluate the results obtained by ureteroscopy to treat urete ric stones and the related complications. Materials and Methods: 74 ureteroscopies were studied retrospectively inclu ding 62 cases of pelvic ureteric stones. In situ fragmentation was necessar y in 28.4% of cases. Success was defined as the absence of stones for one m onth after ureteroscopy. Success rates were analysed according to size and site of the stone the need for fragmentation and the patient's sex. Results::Morbidity was 6.8%. Success was obtained in 60.8% of cases: 72.7% in women and 55.8% in men. The mean diameter of successfully treated stones was statistically smaller (6.2+/-2.1 mm) than that of stones with a poor r esult (7.8+/-3.7 mm) (p=0.044, Spearman). Conclusions: The size and site of the stone and the patient's sex influence the results of ureteroscopy. Ureteroscopy for stone disease remains a topi cal modality after failure of extracorporeal lithotripsy, but also in the c ase of poor access of an effective lithotriptor.