[Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy of an iliac ureteral stone forgotten for more than eight years]

Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy recently rises as a new option in the treatment of ureteral calculi, particularly those of the greatest size, hardness or impactation. We describe such an indication to resolve a case of forgotten for more than eight years and severely obstructive ureteral stone.

A 64 years-old male received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for a right distal ureteral stone and, simultaneously, a left impacted iliac ureteral calculi was discovered, at the confluence of an incomplete duplication of the ureter, for which treatment was recommended, but deferred by the patient. Eight years after, the same stone caused a massive dilatation with poor function of the upper pole moiety and slightly preserved function of the lower pole moiety of the left kidney. Two intents of retrograde ureteroscopy failed because of impossibility to reach the stone. Transperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy was performed in lateral decubitus position, with double J in place and three 10 mm ports. After identification of the dilated ureter, an V-shape ureterothomy was made and the stone mobilized and extracted. The ureter was stented and the ureterothomy closed with intracorporeal suture. The patient had a postoperative stage of four days and a mild functional recovery.

If the usual treatment options (extracorporeal lithotripsy and ureteroscopy with intracorporeal lithotripsy) failed, then laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is less invasive than open ureterolithotomy. However, the indications of laparoscopic ureterolithotomy are restricted because substantial laparoscopic experience is needed to cope with possible technical difficulties.