Percutaneous antegrade extrusion of ureteral stones

A technique to extrude small obstructing ureteral stones with a catheter through a percutaneous nephrostomy tract is described. The technique was successfully used to extrude obstructing ureteral stones in three patients who had ileal loop urinary diversions and who were poor operative risks, and in one patient who had had no previous urinary tract surgery. In these four patients, ureteral stones were dislodged and removed without complication. The technique may have advantages over previously described techniques, particularly in patients with ileal conduits in whom established retrograde cystoscopic techniques are difficult to perform, and in patients who are poor operative risks.