Minimally invasive management of urolithiasis

The management of urolithiasis has radically changed over the last two decades. Open surgery has been almost completely replaced by minimally invasive procedures, mainly extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ureteroscopy (URS). Although these treatment modalities have been proven to be very safe and effective, serious complications can occur. Prompt diagnosis is often essential and may even be lifesaving. Radiologists play an important role in this setting, since many of these complications can be readily diagnosed by imaging. Awareness of the wide spectrum of complications may be crucial in interpreting imaging studies of patients who have undergone one of these procedures. This article reviews the contemporary management of ureteric stones with ESWL and URS and illustrates the radiological findings of complications of these procedures.