UROLOGICAL SURVEY
STONE DISEASE
Division of Urology, St. Michael's Hospital , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
J Endourol. 2011; 25: 1259-62
Ureteral avulsion during ureteroscopic stone management is extremely rare. To date, many publications reporting avulsion have been associated with "blind basket extraction" under fluoroscopy and the use of the Dormia stone basket. Fortunately, despite the significant rise in the numbers of ureteroscopic cases being performed, the rate of ureteral avulsion remains low. This is likely in part because of improvements in ureteroscope technology and stone manipulation devices. We present three recent cases of ureteral avulsion referred to our center for further management. To our knowledge, these cases represent the first published description of avulsion where the ureteroscope became wedged in the intramural ureter, resulting in full-length avulsion of the ureter. The avulsion occurs both proximally and distally with a resultant length of ureter left attached to the ureteroscope. We dub this mechanism the "scabbard" avulsion. We describe the most likely mechanism of this injury, with suggestions on how to prevent it and how to release the ureteroscope should it become wedged in the intramural ureter.
Editorial Comment
The authors have identified a new mechanism of injury to the ureter during semi-rigid ureteroscopy. The authors propose that excessive upward force on the semi-rigid ureteroscope lead to impaction of the scope in the intramural ureter. Withdrawal of the scope then led to avulsion of the intramural ureter at the bladder, followed by avulsion of the UPJ with further extraction of the scope, leaving the ureteral segment as a "scabbard on a sword". The authors discuss the potential that this complication could occur with the use of larger ureteral access sheaths. They comment that the hydrophilic coating may prevent such an injury. However, it is feasible that if the ureteral access sheath is "tight" on the way up, by the end of a lengthy procedure at which point the hydrophilic coating may no longer be "wet"; significant resistance may be encountered on withdrawal of the sheath. The authors propose that the use of a safety wire may help prevent "impaction" of the scope in the ureter. They propose liberal use of a flexible ureteroscope above the iliac vessels, and lubrication of the proximal shaft of the semi-rigid ureteroscope if plans are to advance it beyone the iliac vessels. The authors also emphasize that excessive upward force with the semi-rigid ureteroscope should be avoided. Lastly, they propose that if an impacted ureteroscope is encountered, one attempt placement of a second endoscope alongside it an utilize a holmium laser to incise the ureteral orifice.
Dr. Manoj Monga
Director, Stevan B. Streem Center for
Endourology & Stone Disease
Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute
The Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
E-mail: endourol@yahoo.com
Ureteral avulsion during contemporary ureteroscopic stone management: "the scabbard avulsion"
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
02 Jan 2012 -
Date of issue
Oct 2011
