Prophylactic treatment with GTN reduces the incidence of pancreatitis following ERCP but does not seem to reduce the extent of hyperamylasaemia or the severity of pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of rigid and flexible ureteroscopy as a day-surgery procedure.PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients requiring elective ureteroscopy from March 2004 were considered for a day-surgery procedure. The standard day-surgery exclusions existed but there were no urological criteria for exclusion. A single consultant urologist performed or supervised all procedures. RESULTS A total of 64 patients underwent 50 rigid and 14 flexible procedures. Six diagnostic ureteroscopies were performed. There was a 96% stone clearance rate. Five patients required an unplanned admission within the first 2 weeks' postoperatively. Three of these patients were admitted on the day of surgery, two for pain and one for social reasons. Two patients were admitted at 24 h and 48 h, respectively, for urinary retention.CONCLUSIONS Ureteroscopy, both rigid and flexible, is a safe procedure for the day-surgery setting. Routine use of prophylactic antibiotics, intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs resulted in an acceptable re-admission rate.

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