Transurethral ureteroscopy: is local anesthesia with intravenous sedation sufficiently effective and safe?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of local anesthesia and sedation in ureteroscopic interventions and to compare the results with other kinds of anesthesia.

METHODS

107 ureteroscopic interventions have been done to 99 renoureteral units involving 77 patients under different kinds of anesthesia.

RESULTS

45 of 107 procedures were performed under general anesthesia, 11 under spinal/epidural anesthesia, and 51 using local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. The overall success rate was 90%. The failure rate was 18% for the procedures undertaken using local anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

Local anesthesia in ureteroscopic interventions may be considered as a first choice because of almost similar success rates to other kinds of anesthesia: is has a low morbidity and low cost.