Ureterolithotripsy in children.

OBJECTIVES

The pediatric application of ureteroscopy was initially hindered by the size of the instruments and the fear of damaging the urethra and ureterovesical junction during endoscopic maneuvers. This review of our experience is focused on the usefulness of thin and ultrathin ureteroscopes such as the 7 F Gautier rigid ureteroscope with rod lens optics (Wolf) or the new, ultrathin 4.8 F Wolf ureteroscope, semirigid, fiberoptic, in conjunction with atraumatic sources of energy such as pulsed dye laser or ballistic lithotripter, for the treatment of ureteral stones in children.

METHODS

Between 1989 and 1994, we performed ureteroscopy and ureterolithotripsy on 7 children less than 10 years old. There were 6 male patients and 1 female patient, with a mean age of 6 years (range, 3.5 to 10). We used the pulsed dye laser Pulsolith and the ballistic lithotripter Lithoclast, the Gautier (Wolf) rigid, rod lens ureteroscope (7 F), without the sheath or the blunt needle 4.8 F semirigid (Wolf), fiberoptic ureteroscope. In all cases a double pigtail ureteral catheter was left in situ.

RESULTS

In all 7 cases, the treatment was successful without early or delayed complications. In particular, no case of vesicoureteral reflux was observed in any of the children during subsequent follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONS

This article demonstrates the feasibility of ureteroscopy and ureterolithotripsy in children less than 10 years old with ureteral stones. We believe that because of the fragility of the ureter in the pediatric age group, ureteroscopic maneuvers should be performed and handled by experienced endourologists in well-equipped centers.