Ureteroscopy and Stone Fragmentation

Ureteroscopy and Stone Fragmentation

What happens during the procedure?

You will usually be given injectable antibiotics before the procedure, A telescope is inserted into the bladder through the water pipe (urethra). Under X-ray screening, a flexible guidewire is inserted into the affected ureter up to the kidney. A longer telescope (either rigid or flexible) is then inserted into the ureter and passed up to the kidney. The stone is disintegrated using a mechanical probe or laser and the fragments extracted with special retrieval devices. If the surgeon feels it necessary a ureteric stent (tube to drain the kidney into the bladder) will be inserted.

What happens immediately after the procedure?

If a bladder catheter has been inserted, this is usually removed on the day after surgery. You will be able to go home once you are passing urine normally. An X-ray is often performed the day after surgery to check on the presence of residual stone fragments. The average hospital stay is 1 day.

Are there any side-effects?

Although the side-effects are listed below the majority of patients experience very mild symptoms which settle down spontaneously after a ureteroscopy.

Common

Mild burning or bleeding on passing urine for short period after operation Temporary insertion of a bladder catheter Insertion of a stent with a further procedure to remove it.

If you have a ureteral stent, you may have:

• Blood in the urine:You may pass some blood clots in your urine right after the procedure. This usually stops after 3-4 times of passing urine. Blood in your urine may continue on and off until the stent is removed. The more active you are, the more blood you may see.
• The need to pass urine more often (frequency):The stent may give you the feeling that your bladder is full and you need to urinate. You may feel you have to urinate all the time, in small amounts. It will take your body a few days to adjust to the stent.

Occasional

• Inability to retrieve the stone or movement of the stone back into kidney where it is not retrievable
• Kidney damage or infection needing further treatment
• Failure to pass the telescope if the ureter is narrow