Surgical and radiological predictive factors for ureteric stricture formation in patients treated with ureteroscopy for ureteric stones

Abstract

Background: Ureteric stricture is a potential complication of impacted ureteric stones. This study investigates surgical and radiological factors that could predict ureteric stricture formation after ureteroscopic treatment of impacted ureteric stones.

Materials and method: Intraoperative and radiological data for patients who underwent ureteroscopic treatment of ureteric stones impaction over a 5-year period were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who had previous ureteroscopic treatment or strictures were excluded.

Results: Between January 2014 and May 2019, 1,340 patients presented as emergency renal colic secondary to ureteric stones. A total of 297 ureteroscopy procedures were performed for impacted calculi. The mean age was 53 years. The stricture rate was 3.3%. Analysis of radiological and surgical factors revealed that the degree of hydronephrosis, residual fragments and intraoperative ureteric injury were significant predictors for stricture formation (p = 0.018, 0.01 and 0.02, OR = 10, 47 and 1776, respectively). None of the other factors significantly predicted ureteric stricture formation.

Conclusion: Our study found the presence of severe hydronephrosis, residual stone fragments after surgery and intraoperative ureteric injury are significant predictive factors for ureteric stricture formation. The high-risk patients should be monitored with routine postoperative renal ultrasound.

Keywords: Hydronephrosis; impacted ureteric stones; residual stone fragments; ureteric stricture; ureteroscopy.