Abstract:

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of balloon dilatation in ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of distal ureteral stones. Materials and Methods: The retrospective data of patients who underwent URS for distal ureter stones between January 2008 and June 2018 were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the need of balloon dilatation. Group 1 was consisted of balloon dilatation (-) patients and Group 2 was cosnsited of balloon dilatation (+) patients. These two groups were compared in terms of demographic of patients, stone characteristics, operation outcomes and complications. Results: Group 1 was consisted of 359 (70.4%) male and 151 (29.6%) female; group 2 was consisted of 32 (80%) male and 8 (20%) female patients (p=0.197). The average age of patients was 43.3±14.3 years in group 1 and 44.2±14.9 years in group 2 (p=0.704). Operation time was significantly higher in group 2 (32.8±20.5 min vs 40.1±16.0; p=0.029). Although the stone free rate was significantly higher in group 1 (%98.6 vs. 90%; p=0.017); the complication rate was similar between groups (%3.2 vs. 2.5; p=0.787). Conclusions: The same session balloon dilatation for ureteral structures in ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of distal ureteral stones seems safe and cost-effective method. Although this procedure may lead to prolongation in operation times and decrease the stone free rates; it does not affect the complication rates and prevents patients from requiring a new operation for the same stone. Further randomized and prospective studies are needed for long-term outcomes of this procedure.

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