Contact ureterolithotripsy

Contact ureterolithotripsy is an endoscopic procedure for removing stones from the ureter by crushing them. Patients often learn about the presence of a stone (calculus) in the ureter when they are examined for acute pain in the lumbar region (renal colic). 

In our clinic, the procedure is performed with a flexible endoscope, which is inserted into the ureter transurethrally (through the urethra), through the natural urinary openings, without incisions and punctures. This reduces the traumatic effect of the operation to almost 0. The presence of powerful optics makes it possible to accurately isolate and completely remove all calculus particles. Contact ureterolithotripsy in our clinic is an opportunity to remove stones of any density, absence of postoperative scars, scars and short rehabilitation.

Ureterolithotripsy is a non—traumatic method of treating urolithiasis, which involves the fragmentation of ureteral stones into small fragments and their subsequent removal. The stones are crushed into sand in a few seconds, and then they are easily removed from the urinary system.

Contact ureterolithotripsy is the "gold standard" for the treatment of urolithiasis, as it is characterized by high efficiency in crushing concretions of any localization. Endoscopic stands with powerful optics, used in the EMC Urological Clinic, allow fast, safe fragmentation and removal of nodules of any size, shape, density, including large coralloid ones. 

The advantages of our treatment are that we quickly diagnose the problem and perform the operation within an hour after the patient's treatment, without wasting time. In our clinic, such operations are performed all year round, 24/7.

Stones can form in any part of the urinary system, from the kidney parenchyma to the urethral canal. Only small crystals with a diameter of less than 1 cm can come out independently with urine flow. Large concretions cannot pass through a narrow ureter by themselves. The operation should be performed immediately after diagnosis. Delay can lead to the fact that a stone blocking the outflow of urine from the kidney will provoke an inflammatory process in the kidney — acute obstructive pyelonephritis, accompanied by high fever, acute pain, intoxication of the whole organism.

The danger of secondary (obstructive) pyelonephritis is that, compared with primary pyelonephritis, it is characterized by a rapid progression of the purulent process — the formation of abscesses, retroperitoneal phlegmon, etc. The standard of treatment in this situation is rapid destruction of the calculus, aspiration of its fractions, normalization of urine outflow.

Ureterolithotripsy is indicated in the following cases:

• Diagnosed stones with a diameter of 0.5 cm or more;
• Multiple stones of the distal ureter;
• the density of concretions is more than 800-1200 units.
• renal colic;
• constantly recurrent pyelonephritis on the background of urolithiasis;
• X-ray negative concretions (which are not detected by X-ray of the kidneys);
• absence of obstacles (tumors, stenoses) for the removal of fractions from the urinary tract;
• ineffectiveness of remote lithotripsy or contraindications to its implementation.

Contraindications to surgery

Preparation, diagnostics

• blood tests (clinical, biochemical, clotting, infections, group and Rh factor, glucose) and urine (general, sediment microscopy);
• urethroscopy;
• excretory and overview urography;
Ultrasound, CT, and MRI of the kidneys with contrast.

How is the operation performed

Rehabilitation

• Follow a salt-free diet, exclude fried, spicy, sour, salty foods, canned food, alcohol, soda;
• adhere to a drinking regime;
• limit weight lifting and heavy exercise for a month (but physical inactivity is not welcome, you need to properly dose physical activity);
• lead a healthy, active lifestyle, walk more often, play sports;
• avoid hypothermia, overheating of the body;
• come to the urologist regularly for a follow-up examination.