How to do ureteroscopy

Ureteroscopy is usually an auxiliary examination method used to check whether the urethral function is normal. When doing ureteroscopy, you cannot eat any food after midnight the night before, and you also need to do enema by yourself. If you suffer from ureteral diseases, you must take it seriously. If you do not actively treat it, it will have a great impact on your health.

Ureteroscopic lithotripsy is a commonly used minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of urinary stones, which has the characteristics of less trauma, quick recovery, and good stone removal. First, a brief introduction to this technology is given.

The ureters are tiny natural tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and kidney stones passing through this passage can cause obstruction and cramping. With the introduction of fiber-optic technology over the past few decades, doctors have been able to insert a thin camera into an endoscope and into the ureter.

Ureteroscopes allow us to see the inside of the ureters and kidneys and perform various procedures, including intracavitary lithotripsy, using lasers, optical fibers, etc. In addition, the broken stones can be removed from the body through a mesh basket made of fine metal wire.

Currently, almost all urinary stones can be treated with ureteroscopy. Of course, the larger the stone, the longer it will take to break up and remove.

If the condition is not very complicated and the operation is performed by an experienced doctor, this type of operation can be performed as a "day surgery", that is, the patient can go home on the same day of the operation or the next day. This procedure is popularized in education departments of developed Western countries and is becoming a trend in the country. However, if the patient's condition is complicated or has multiple complications, hospitalization and comprehensive preparation are required before implementation.

What happens during surgery?

The operation is usually performed under general anesthesia. The patient lies flat on his back after falling asleep with his legs spread apart and raised (lithotomy position). Doctors first use an endoscope to explore the bladder and then place a guide wire ureter to the affected kidney. The doctor uses this guide wire as a guide to move the ureteroscope upward for surgery.

Once a lesion, such as a stone, is identified, a laser fiber can be inserted into the ureteroscope to break up the lithotripsy, with the fragments removed with a fine mesh basket and the fine particles allowed to pass naturally.

After the operation, most doctors will put a stent (a curved catheter with one end hooked on the kidney and the other end in the bladder) in the ureter to prevent the ureteral wall from swelling due to the operation (such as swelling caused by a bruised finger) and blocking the urine flow.

Operation time

The duration of ureteroscopy is basically determined by the size of the stone and is usually completed within 1-2 hours.

anaesthetization

General anesthesia is recommended for this surgery so that the patient's breathing can be controlled to better target the surgery.

Clinical benefits

Minimally invasive surgery

Discharge soon

No incision

Very effective for small stones

The stone-free rate is higher than that of extracorporeal lithotripsy

Unlike shock waves, lasers can break up any stone.

Any surgery carries certain risks, and ureteroscopy is no exception.

Early complications

Residual stones

Urinary tract infection requiring hospitalization

Ureteral or kidney damage may occur

Stent-related pain (bladder or kidney pain)

Hematuria is very common and usually improves within 24-48 hours. However, some people will have hematuria while wearing a stent.

Late complications

Stone recurrence