'Negative Ureteroscopy' for Stone Disease: Evidence from a Systematic Review
Patrick Rice1, Sarah Prattley1, Bhaskar K Somani2,3
1Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UK.
Purpose Of Review:
While ureteroscopy (URS) is a common procedure for ureteric stones, this window between diagnosis and treatment leaves the possibility for a 'negative', 'stoneless' or 'diagnostic' URS. We perform a systematic review to look at the rate of 'negative ureteroscopy' and risk factors associated with it.
Recent Findings:
From a total of 3599 articles and 68 abstracts, 4 studies (1336 patients) were selected. The negative URS rate varied from 4 to 14%. Common predictors seem to be female gender, small stones, radiolucent stones and distal ureteric stones. Although infrequent, negative ureteroscopy should be avoided in patients with ureteric stones by performing a low-dose CT scan on the day of surgery. This should especially be performed for females and those with smaller, radiolucent or distal ureteric stones.
Related Concept Videos
Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
Urinary Tract Calculi III: Medical Management
Urinary Tract Calculi IV: Nutrition Therapy and Prevention
Urinary Tract Calculi V: Nursing Management
Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography

