Iatrogenic rupture of the ureter following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the treatment of choice in most cases of urinary calculi, with the estimation that open surgery is only necessary in 5% of all cases. In most cases, the complications derived from this technique are slight, transitory and of little clinical importance, with isolated cases of serious urological or extraurological injury. These complications are either caused by the action of the stone itself or its fragments, or by the action of shock waves. We present a case of ureteral rupture following treatment of a ureteral calculus using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy which led to a periureteral retroperitoneal abscess that was treated by nephroureterectomy.