Bilateral same-session ureteroscopy: its efficacy and safety for diagnosis and treatment.

PURPOSE To report the results of bilateral same-session ureteroscopy in patients with bilateral pathologies in urinary system. MATERIALS AND METHODS From among nearly 3000 patients who had undergone diagnostic or therapeutic ureteroscopy in our center, 23 (13 females and 10 males) were treated with bilateral same-session ureteroscopy. Pathologies included bilateral ureteral stone in 19, hematuria of unknown etiology in 3, and bilateral obstructive uropathy in 1. Hospital and follow-up records of the patients were reviewed in this study. RESULTS Of 19 patients with bilateral ureteral stone, 11 had anuria and increased serum creatinine. Ureteroscopy was successful in 9, and the stones were fragmented. Ureteroscopy insertion was not successful in 1, and in 1 another, upper ureteral stone was pushed into the Kidney. Six patients had normal urine output and normal serum creatinine. In 5 of them, ureteroscopy was done and the stones were fragmented, but due to ureteral stricture, ureteroscopy was impossible in 1. In 2 patients with oliguria and increased serum creatinine, bilateral ureteral stones were extracted successfully. Of 3 patients with hematuria of unknown origin, 2 had normal ureteroscopy, and 1 had a small non-opaque stone that was extracted successfully. In 1 patient with obstructive uropathy and the diagnosis of obstructive megaureter, bilateral ureteroscopy was done and bilateral ureteral stents were placed. Finally, from 23 patients, 21 had successful bilateral same-session ureteroscopy. Postoperative complications included pyrogenic infection in 2 and gross hematuria in 4, all of which were resolved with medical treatment. CONCLUSION Bilateral same-session ureteroscopy is an appropriate therapeutic and diagnostic option, with its own specific indications. It can reduce hospital stay, prevent multiple anesthesias, and alleviate the costs. We recommend this approach in patients with bilateral ureteral pathologies, provided that they are amenable to ureteroscopy.