URS (Ureteroscopy)

What is ureteroscopy?

URS (Ureteroscopy) is a form of minimally invasive surgery with a small telescope that is passed through the urethra into the ureter to remove a stone. In most cases, the fragmentation is needed with a laser that allows removing the stone with a gasping device. Surgical intervention is needed in around 10 to 15 percent cases only.

What about the procedure?

URS is an outpatient procedure that means the patient can get back home on the same day. The procedure is done with the use of general anesthesia, but in some cases, regional anesthesia can be used. To prevent infection preoperative antibiotics are given. The procedure of the length can vary from case to case, which can be 20 minutes to 1 hour or maybe longer.

What happens after the procedure?

Following the procedure, the patients are awakened in the operating room and then taken to the recovery room. Once all hospital discharge criteria are met, patients need to get back to the home. A family member or friend will accompany you home following the procedure. No limitations on physical activity are needed after discharge. The patients should take one day off from work following the treatment.

What are Stents?

• A urethral stent is a soft hollow tube that acts like a straw to allow the urine to pass from the kidney down to the ureter and then to the bladder. It is very common to have a stent placed into the ureter at the end of SRS.
• Stent placement is done due to different reasons, all of them are to help the ureter to remain open following the treatment. To the stent, the string is left attached, and it dangles out the urethra. This string helps in removing the stent 2 to 5 days following the surgery.
• There can be side effects related to the stent such as irritative urinary symptoms or pain in the kidney. These symptoms mainly occur when the stent is removed. Mostly, the stent should remain in the ureter for around 4 weeks, especially when there is any injury to the ureter due to the procedure or stone getting removed.

Are there any complications?

Like with any surgical procedure, complications can occur but they are rare. The complications with URS includes:

• Not able to remove the stone
• Perforation of the ureter
• Injury to other structures such as ureter, bladder, urethra, or kidney
• Urinary infection
• Need for additional procedures
• Ureter have scar or stricture (<5% will need surgical repair)
• Blood in the urine
• Immediate surgical repair of an injured ureter (<<1% cases)

There is no need to worry as most patients do not have issues following URS. If you have any questions in your mind then feel free to ask the doctor any time. Book your appointment at Astha Hospital to get a better understanding of what treatment plan you need to get.