The transurethral ureteroscopic pneumatic cystolithotripsy procedure is a safe technique for the management of large bladder calculi. It allows the bladder to collapse over the stone, leading to stone immobilization and, subsequently, decreasing lithotripsy duration. Our procedure is associated with a minimal chance of postoperative urethral injury because all stone fragments are evacuated through the cystoscope sheath, without contact with the urethral urothelium.

Background: Different treatment options were used to treat upper ureteral calculi. The aim of our study is to compare the stone-free rate and postoperative outcomes between semirigid ureteroscope with holmium laser lithotripsy and laparoscopic ureterolithotomy for the management of large solitary upper ureteral stones. Sixty-seven patients with a solitary upper ureteral stone who had LU or semirigid ureteroscopy in the period between January 2014 and March 2017 were included in our study. Out of the sixty-seven patients, 37 patients had semirigid ureteroscopy and holmium laser lithotripsy (Group A) and 30 patients had laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (Group B). Both groups were compared regarding operative time, intraoperative complications, need for auxiliary procedures, hospital stays, postoperative complications and stone-free rate. Results: The mean stone size was 1.84 ± 0.12 cm in Group A and 1.79 ± 0.17 cm in Group B, P value = 0.2. The mean operative time was 61.5 ± 3.5 min in Group A and 63 ± 4.2 min in Group B, P value = 0.13. Stone migration was recorded in five cases (14%) in Group A while no cases in Group B had stone migration. Flexible ureteroscope was used as an auxiliary measure in five patients (14%) in Group A at the same session. No auxiliary measures were used in the LU group. Conclusion: The stone-free rates after semirigid URS and laser lithotripsy are comparable to those following LU, especially when flexible URS is used to manage migrating stone fragments at the same session.

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Objective: To compare a modified technique using the Dormia basket vs Stone Cone for stone entrapment to avoid proximal stone migration during ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy of ureteric stones. Patients and methods: Our study included all patients with ureteric stones of <15 mm who underwent ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy from January 2015 to September 2018. The study had two arms that were conducted over two consecutive periods; the first included 72 patients in whom we used the Stone Cone (Group 1) and the second included 86 patients in whom we started to use a Dormia basket with a modification (Group 2) to guard against proximal stone migration. Results: Both groups were comparable for gender, age, and stone characteristics. Lower ureteric stones were the most prevalent as they represented 62.5% and 60.5% in groups 1 and 2, respectively; while upper ureteric stones were respectively found in 16.7% and 17.4%. Chemical stone analysis revealed that calcium oxalate stones were most predominant accounting for 51.3% and 51.1% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. Most of the stones were radio-opaque stones representing 57% and 58.1% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was a significant difference in operative time, with a mean (SD) operative time was 50.9 (11.2) in Group 1 vs 58.3 (12.4) min in Group 2 (P < 0.001). The success rate, defined as no retropulsion of stone fragments, was 97.7% in Group 2 vs 91.7% in Group 1 (P < 0.01). Complications were minor and comparable between the groups. There was no difference in hospital stay between the groups, but the cost assessment favoured Group 2. Conclusion: We found that our modified-basket stone entrapment technique compared favourably with the Stone Cone to guard against stone retropulsion during ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy. Our modification to the basket was found to be feasible, efficient, safe, reproducible and cost-effective in preventing proximal stone migration. This procedure is particularly suitable in cost-limited environments.

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