[Technics of ureteral endoscopic access]

The present article briefly reviews the history of endoscopic access to the ureter, since visualization of the ureter was first attempted until the procedure was developed by Pérez-Castro in 1979.

The development of the rigid ureteroscopes, the difficulties arising from the anatomical structures during endoscopy that require ureteral dilatation, the anatomy of the juxtavesical segment of the ureter and the pathologies that may alter it, and the present and future indications of ureteral dilatation are discussed. Patient preoperative evaluation is briefly described and one of the techniques of ureteral dilatation is analyzed. Finally, a brief summary comparing the different techniques is given.

The technique of choice for ureteral dilatation must be simple, easy to perform, low-cost and one which reduces the iatrogenic lesions and shortens the duration of hospital stay.