Introduction: Ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy has been used to treat ureteral calculi for more than 10 years. Owing to its low price and high degree of effectiveness, it has become the most popular ureteroscopic lithotripsy device in use worldwide. The major limitation of the technique is the occurrence of proximal fragment migration during intracorporeal lithotripsy. The Dretler Stone Cone is a new device developed to prevent stone migration during ureteroscopic lithotripsy. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of this device during ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy. Patients and Methods: Twenty-three consecutive patients having ureteral stones were treated with a 10-Fr semirigid ureteroscope, a Stone Cone™ Nitinol Retrieval Device, and a pneumatic lithotriptor. In all patients Stone Cones were placed under visual guidance through the working channel of the ureteroscope. Outcomes of this device were then compared with the outcomes of 23 previous patients with stones of similar sizes and locations who had undergone ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy prior to the Stone Cone being available at our clinic. Results: All patients in the study group were stone-free after the procedure. No stone fragments were noted to migrate to proximal segments. Conclusions: The Dretler Stone Cone effectively prevents proximal stone migration and facilitates stone fragmentation during pneumatic lithotripsy with no risk of ureteral injury. It has only a small extra cost.

Keywords:
Ureteral stone, Pneumatic lithotripsy, Ureteroscopy
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
2006
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.