Ureteral calculi

Abstract

The indications to intervene for patients with ureteral calculi include pain unresponsive to medical management, progressive obstruction, renal insufficiency associated with the obstruction, infection, socioeconomic factors (travelers, pilots, and others), size judged unlikely to pass spontaneously (>4-5 mm), or failure to progress distally in a reasonable length of time. For those patients with significant renal insufficiency or infection related to the obstructing stone, definitive management should be withheld until the renal failure or infection is controlled with a temporizing stent or percutaneous nephrostomy drainage. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.