[Treatment of renal pelvic calculi using the rigid ureterorenoscope]

Ten patients with renal pelvic stones were treated by rigid ureterorenoscopy. Ultrasound lithotriptor and biopsy forceps were used for disintegrating the stones. The stones of 5 patients were disintegrated into small fragments that passed spontaneously within 2 months after the procedure. The stones of 2 failed to disintegrate for migration of the stones into the calices. Retention of the large fragments in the calices occurred in 3 patients. Residual fragments of urate were dissolved completely by urine alkalinization 5 months later in 1 patient. In another patient the fragment had fallen into the ureter and it was extracted by ureterorenoscopy 8 months later. After all, the success rate was 70% in this series. The disintegration of stones in the small intrarenal pelvis has proved to be difficult when they are approached by retrograde ureterorenoscopy. There were 2 complications of ureterorenoscopy: extravasation of urine from the renal sinus, and from the upper ureter. These minor injuries were treated by stenting without sequelae.