Ureteroscopic treatment of upper tract urinary calculi

Ureteroscopic treatment of upper urinary tract calculi is continuously evolving. Initial reports were limited to the treatment of distal ureteral stones. These cases had mixed success, and compared to modern ureteroscopy, had significant associated morbidity. The entire urinary tract can now be safely accessed via ureteroscopy almost always. Improvements in ureteroscope technology have certainly made this possible. These advances include smaller steerable scopes and sharper optics and video. The enhanced view of the upper urinary tract in combination with advances in lithotripsy, in particular, the holmium laser, has resulted in increased treatment success and reduced procedure related morbidity. This review describes the advances in ureteroscopic technology and provides data regarding treatment success and associated complications.