Life-threatening complications after ureteroscopy for urinary stones: survey and revision of the current literature.

This study highlighted some cases of life-threatening complications after semirigid ureteroscopy (s-URS) or flexible ureteroscopy (f-URS). We enrolled experienced endourologists (more than 75 cases/year in the last 3 years) and we performed a survey asking to review their series and report the cases encumbered by major complications (Clavien-Dindo IIIb-IV grade). Eleven urologists reported on 12 major complications (4 after s-URS, 8 after f-URS). Eight patients developed a kidney injury, 1 an arteriovenous fistula, 2 a ureter avulsion and 1 acute sepsis. Six patients underwent open nephrectomy, two surgical repair, one open pyeloplasty, one coil artery embolization and two superselective artery embolization. Guidelines and clinical practice give useful recommendations about intraoperative safety and prevention of life-threatening events. The careful postoperative observation and the surgical active treatment of this complications play a key role in reducing morbidity, kidney loss and mortality. This study encourages a strict and active care of patients, supports a routine reporting of complications, and highlights the need for systematic use of standardized classification systems. PMID: 28150482 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica - Category: Urology & Nephrology Tags: Minerva Urol Nefrol Source Type: research