Patients with ureteral calculi may be managed by expectant, invasive, or noninvasive treatments, depending on the stone composition, size and location, expectations of the patients, and experience of the surgeon. Currently ureteroscopic removal
of
stone
(URS) has been popularly used for the treatment of ureteral calculi. From January 1992 to December 1994, we retrospectively compared the clinical results of 87 URS's to those of 31 ureterolithotomies and analysed the factors that affect the
results
of
URS.
The clinical results of two groups were summarized as follows: The mean stone size was 7.6mm in URS group and 12.1mm in ureterolithotomy group. In 81.6% of URS group, the stone was located in the lower ureter and 71% of ureterolithotomy group in
the
upper ureter. The mean operation time, hospital stay and costs of the URS group were significantly less than those of ureterolithotomy group. In the URS group, 96.6% of the stone were removed or disintegrated. There was no statistical
significance
in
the success rate of URS along the sex difference, the location and size of stone. However, the higher the location of stone was, the more operation time spent. The complication rate of URS was estimated 26.5% but most of complications were
resolved
by
conservative management.
We conclusively suggest that the URS is the acceptable alternative modality of the ureterolithotomy for the treatment of the ureteral calculi.
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