The development of ureteric strictures after ureteroscopic treatment for ureteric calculi: A long-term study at two academic centres

To determine the incidence of symptomatic and ‘silent’ obstruction after ureteroscopic procedures. In all, 1980 patients underwent ureteroscopy for ureteric calculi in two large centres. The methods of disintegration, auxiliary procedures used and type of stenting were considered. Intraoperative complications, in addition to the size and site of the stone, were assessed in relation to postoperative obstruction. The mean (range) follow-up was 42 (12–68) months, with patients assessed after 3–6months and yearly thereafter. The postoperative evaluation included an assessment of pain, renal ultrasonography, a plain abdominal film, intravenous urography, and a diuretic renal scan in some cases to confirm obstruction. The success rate of stone removal was 98.5%. The failures were related to the size of the stone (>2cm; P2cm (4.4%), compared to three (0.17%) of 1746 patients with stones of