The efficacy and safety of ureteroscopy for ureteral calculi in pregnancy: our experience in 32 patients

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of ureteroscopy (URS) in pregnant women. A retrospective analysis was performed on 32 pregnant patients referred to our center between April 2005 and November 2010 with hydronephrosis requiring surgical intervention. A semirigid URS of 9.5 F was used in all patients. The mean age of patients was 27.8 years (range 20–39), and the mean gestation duration was 24 weeks (15–34). The ultrasound findings were diagnostic of obstructive ureteral calculi in 16 (50%) patients and the mean stone diameter was 8 mm. Spinal anaesthesia was performed in 22 (68.8%) patients, while general anaesthesia was performed in 7 (21.8%) patients. Ureteric stones were found in 27 (84.3%) patients during endoscopy, 10 being distal, 9 middle and 8 proximal. There were no stones in five patients. The stones were fragmented with pneumatic lithotripsy in 8 patients and with holmium laser in 17 patients and the fragments were retracted with forceps. Of the 32 patients, 19 (59.4%) required JJ stent insertion peroperatively. There was no serious complication intraoperatively, while urinary tract infection developed in four and renal colic in two patients postoperatively. In one patient, sepsis developed postoperatively, and improved with appropriate treatment. All babies were born normally. Semirigid ureteroscopy for diagnosing and treating ureteral calculi by intracorporeal pneumatic or holmium laser lithotripsy is a safe and reasonable treatment option for pregnant patients.