Experience on semirigid ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy in children at a single center

Ureteroscopy in children with miniaturized instruments is becoming popular with the advent of pediatric ureteroscopes and laser lithotriptors. We had been performing pediatric ureteroscopies with a 7.5 Fr. semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor, used in adults as well. Herein, we present our experience in pediatric ureteroscopy with a semirigid 7.5 Fr. ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor with a specific focus on changes in success and complication rates with time.

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients younger than 18 years old who underwent ureteroscopic intervention with a 7.5 Fr. semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor at our institute between January 2000 and September 2009. Patient characteristics were recorded including date of surgery, age, sex, stone size and location, ureteroscopy technique, duration of surgery, the result of surgery, complication, postureteroscopy ureteral stenting, follow-up duration and final imaging.

A total of 48 children (28 boys, 20 girls) with a mean age of 7.6 years (range: 9 months-18 years) have undergone 54 ureteroscopic intervention. Thirty-eight (79.1%) children were <10 years of age and 17 (35.4%) were <4 years of age. Stone-related ureteroscopy number was 51. Mean stone diameter was 6.6 mm (4-20 mm). Mean duration of surgery was 77 min (25-150 min). Overall success rate was 84.3%, and overall complication rate was 14.8%.

Ureteroscopic management of ureteral stones is safe and effective in children >1 year of age with a 7.5 Fr. semirigid ureteroscope and pneumatic lithotriptor.