The management of ureteral calculi during pregnancy

During the past seven years, 14 pregnant patients were admitted to our hospital for treatment of ureteral calculus. During this same period, 22,495 deliveries were performed, for an incidence of one calculus per 1,600 pregnancies. Eleven patients spontaneously passed the calculus, ten prior to delivery and one patient postpartum. Three patients required an operation, two antepartum and one patient postpartum. No maternal or fetal complications occurred. Management of urinary calculi during pregnancy must be individualized and should be based upon location of the stone, degree of obstruction, presence or absence of infection, general condition of the patient and stage of pregnancy. Surgical intervention to remove obstructing calculi is not contraindicated during pregnancy.