Overview
A Ureteral Stent is a thin, flexible tube threaded into the ureter to help urine drain from the kidney to the bladder or to an external collection system.
A special telescope is passed through the urethra, bladder, and into the ureter to the stone or to view the area of interest. The telescope may be rigid or flexible. The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthesia. A stone breaker, grasper or laseris passed up the ureteroscope to perform the procedure. This is a minimally invasive procedure that makes use of natural channels in the body; there are no cuts to the skin. It is a well tolerated and frequently performed procedure.
What reduces the risk of more Stones in the future ?
The following steps can reduce the chance of having significant stones in the future : -
- Drink more fluid (especially 2 hours after meals and at night)
- Adopt a diet appropriate to the type of stone.
- Periodic x-rays or ultrasound to determine if more stones are being formed
- Follow up in a stone clinic
What are the reasons for having Ureteroscopy ?
Ureteroscopy is performed for the following reasons : -
- Stones typically in the distal or middle ureter by rigid ureteroscopy that are unlikely to pass spontaneously or are causing significant discomfort
- Stones in the kidney that are not treatable by eswl
- To determine the reason for blood in the urine
What are the Advantages of Ureteroscopy Over other Treatments ?
The stone is usually directly seen allowing the delivery of special instruments or lasers to break the stone. The ureteroscope is passed through natural channels in the body and involve no skin incisions. Providing the stone can be seen, there is a very high chance that the stone will be broken in one session.
Flexible ureteroscopy allows entry into all parts of the kidney so that all stones can be removed or vaporised provided they are of an appropriate size and accessible.
What are the Risks of Ureteroscopy ?
The risks include : -
- Urine infection: this usually requires antibiotics only
- Bleeding: this usually settles quickly
- Damage to the ureter resulting in narrowing of the ureter ('stricture') or perforation: this is rare and may require stretching by a balloon and insertion of a jj stent
- Failure to break and retrieve the stone: an alternative procedure may be necessary
- Perforation of the ureter: usually a jj stent is required for a few weeks after such an injury
- Detachment ('avulsion') of the ureter from kidney: this is very rare and is sometimes unavoidable, but may require open surgery to repair
- Abdominal or back discomfort
- Side-effects due to a jj stent
Other treatment options include : -
- ESWL: this is suitable mostly for stones in upper ureter and kidney limited to a certain size. It can be used for stones in the lower ureter near the bladder, although ureteroscopy tends to be chosen by many urologists
- PCNL: this is very good at removing stones in the kidney and upper ureter, but involves making a small incision in the back and passing a tube through the kidney. For the latter reason, it is more invasive than ureteroscopy.
- Laparoscopic or open surgery: This is more successful than ureteroscopy, but involves making several incisions and needs a longer hospital stay. There is greater risk for infection as a result, although the absolute risk is still quite small. This is usually tried after all other therapies have failed.
What Do You Have To Do Before Ureteroscopy Treatment ?
In most cases, admission to hospital will either be planned or as an emergency because of severe pain due to obstruction of the kidney. Ureteroscopy is performed under general anaesthetic, so no food or water should be consumed before the time of the operation. Usually, no food should have been eaten for at least 5 hours before surgery, but the exact duration will vary depending on the hospital. Less than 5 hours of no drinking is required.
If ureteroscopy is being performed because of stones, an X-ray may be required before going to the operation. Urine is tested by nurses to determine whether a urine infection is likely. Antibiotics are administered at the time of the operation, but may be started a few days earlier if there is concern about bacterial infection.
You should expect to be in hospital for at least the day, but sometimes an overnight stay is required. In some cases, a second or third procedure is required to complete the treatment so be aware that this is unlikely to be the only intervention.
How Often Does Ureteroscopy Need To Be Repeated ?
It may not be possible to reach the stone on the first attempt with the ureteroscope because of severe swelling that occurs when a stone is present in the ureter. In that situation, a JJ stent may be placed in the ureter. With a JJ stent in place, urine can drain from the kidney to the bladder and the ureter expands in size. As it becomes wider, it is easier to pass the ureteroscope up to the stone and remove.
Sometimes, if the stone is very large, it may not be possible to remove the stone in one session and a second procedure may be necessary. On other occasions, small stone fragments or the whole stone may pass up into the kidney. If a flexible ureteroscope is available, this can be passed up into the kidney and the fragments removed or broken with a laser.
What Happens If Ureteroscopy Doesn't Work ?
If rigid ureteroscopy cannot reach the stone, then a flexible ureteroscope may be able to get to the stone and the stone broken. At other times, the stone may have been pushed up into the kidney for further treatment by ESWL. Alternately, one of the other options listed above as alternatives may be necessary.
What Is The Difference Between Rigid And Flexible Ureteroscopy ?
Rigid ureteroscopy is performed literally with a rigid telescope. As such, it look only in a straight line. Flexible ureteroscopy is performed with a very thin and flexible telescope that can perform almost a 180° turn and look back on itself. It is sometimes known as flexible uretero-renoscopy, because it is possible to look into various parts of the inside of the kidney. Using a laser, stones can be vapourised and removed.
Flexible uretero-renoscopy tends to be used for stones in the kidney and near the kidney in the upper ureter. Rigid ureteroscopy is mainly used for stones in the lower and mid ureter closer to the bladder. Flexible ureter-renoscopy is more gentle than rigid ureteroscopy. Sometimes,
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