Efficacy and Safety of Transurethral Photoselective Greenlight(™) Laser Vaporization for the Treatment of Orthotopic Ureteroceles in Adults.

Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of transurethral photoselective Greenlight(™) laser vaporization in adult patients with orthotopic ureterocele.

Materials And Methods: Thirty adult patients diagnosed with orthotopic urecterocele were recruited at our center. Transurethral photoselective Greenlight laser vaporization was used as the exclusive technique for endoscopic management during the study period. Information, including age, gender, mode of presentation, ureterocele size, vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis status, and incidence of reoperation, were collected for evaluation.

Results: Our series included 12 men and 18 women. The mean patient age at presentation was 30.5 years (range, 18-62 years). The mean size of ureterocele was 18 mm (range, 10-41 mm). All patients successfully underwent transurethral photoselective Greenlight laser to vaporize the ureterocele. The operation ranged from 13 min to 38 min (mean 19.6 min). The average blood loss was <10 mL. No patient had intraoperative complications. The average postoperative hospital stay was 18.3 h. All patients were voided after postoperative catheter removal. None of the patients demonstrated any residual ureterocele and/or hydronephrosis when evaluated with ultrasonography after 3 months. Only one patient with a duplex collecting system presented asymptomatic low-grade reflux at 3 months, which was spontaneously resolved after 6 months of follow-up. All patients were free of any symptoms. No reoperative procedures were required at a mean follow-up of 14.2 months (range, 8-16).

Conclusions: Transurethral photoselective Greenlight laser vaporization is safe, effective, and efficient for the management of orthotopic urecteroceles in adults. Therefore, this technique should be considered as the initial treatment in most patients.