Treatment of Large Impacted Proximal Ureteral Stones: Randomized Comparison of Percutaneous Antegrade Ureterolithotripsy versus Retrograde Ureterolithotripsy

Abstract

Percutaneous antegrade ureterolithotripsy is a valuable treatment modality for impacted proximal ureteral calculi larger than 1 cm, and achieves higher stone-free rates than those of retrograde ureteroscopy with holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy. The drawbacks of the antegrade procedure are longer operative time and hospital stay.