Risk of minimally invasive surgery for ureteral calculi

Minimally invasive ureterolithotripsy mainly includes ureteroscopy, flexible ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephroscopy, holmium laser lithotripsy, and laparoscopic lithotomy. Minimally invasive surgery is less invasive and faster to recover than open surgery. Especially for lower ureteral calculi, ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy is very effective. Its main risks are possible bleeding, infection, and damage to ureteral mucosa during surgery, resulting in ureteral stricture. A double J tube can be placed after surgery to effectively prevent upper ureteral calculi. If ureteroscopy cannot complete the operation, flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy can be performed. If the upper ureteral calculi are huge, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy is very effective. The biggest risk of this operation may be infection and bleeding at the puncture site of renal parenchyma. Laparoscopic lithotomy has a lower risk, mainly due to injury to surrounding organs, i.e. intestinal tubes, etc. during the operation.