Complications of ureteroscopy for stone disease

Ureteroscopy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries for kidney stones and one of the most commonly performed surgeries by urologists overall. Although generally safe, recognizing and understanding the potential complications of ureteroscopy is paramount. Intraoperative complications discussed in this review include difficult access, bleeding, ureteral false passage, perforation, and avulsion. Postoperative considerations discussed include extravasation, infection, postoperative imaging for silent obstruction, and ureteral stricture. We place special emphasis on the management of ureteral stricture, which can be associated with significant morbidity.