Ureteroscopy and Holmium:YAG Laser Lithotripsy For Upper Tract Stones in a New Urology Centre: Our Initial Experience.

Background: To demonstrate the outcome of our initial experience in the management of upper tract stones with ureteroscopy and Holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy.

Methodology: The data of thirty-two patients who had ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones at a private urology centre in Awka, Anambra State Nigeria from September 2020 to June 2022 (20months) were retrospectively studied. Their sociodemographic data, clinical symptoms, the location and size of the stones, preoperative and postoperative stent use, hospital stay, complications, and stone-clearance rates were analyzed.

Results: A total of 32 procedures were performed on 32 patients. The mean age of the patients was 44.7 ± 12.2 years. The mean stone size was 15.4 ± 6.7mm with a range of 8.0-39mm, and Hounsfield unit ranging from 233-906. The stones were on the right tract, left tract, and bilateral in 46.9%, 43.7%, and 9.4% of the cases respectively. The patients had a mean length of hospital stay of 3.31 ± 1.45 days. The stone clearance rate was 90.3%. 53.1% of the patients had postoperative complications with 40.6% of these being post-operative fever which resolved with antibiotics. There was treatment failure in one patient due to the inability to scope the ureter on account of ureteral stricture.

Conclusion: Ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy are safe and effective options in the management of upper tract stones with the advantages of being performed via a natural orifice, being less painful, with reduced risk of severe bleeding, irreversible loss of renal parenchyma, as well as a short hospital stay.