The ureters are two small tubes that arise in the renal pelvis and perform the function of carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Dr. Perez-Castro, an expert in Urology, talks about ureteroscopy as a test to determine and/or treat possible anomalies in the urinary tract.
What does ureteroscopy consist of?
Ureteroscopy is an endoscopic urological technique to access the inside of the ureters, and can even reach the kidney. By means of this exploration different pathologies can be diagnosed and the treatment that will allow their resolution can be determined. This is achieved through the extraction of stones in the ureter, determining if there is narrowing in the tract, or if there is a tumor or if it is necessary to remove a foreign body.
How is ureteroscopy performed?
By means of a rigid or flexible endoscope, which is based on a long, thin tube with light and camera, an exploration of the entire urinary tract is achieved. This procedure usually lasts one hour, so the patient is usually subjected to epidural anesthesia, although sometimes a simple sedation can be used. Prior to the test, the genitals are disinfected and the ureteroscope is introduced through the urethra, passing through the bladder and into the ureter.
Preoperative, postoperative and risks of ureteroscopy
The preparation for ureteroscopy is simple, the main thing is that the patient presents himself fasting in order to undergo anesthesia. It is important that the doctor informs the patient if he/she should stop taking any medication before the test, for example aspirin, and the time that has to pass between the last feeding and the intervention.
The postoperative period is quite comfortable, since it lasts a few hours and the patient can be discharged without the need to leave any tube or catheter, except on some occasions a double J catheter. It is important that the patient is accompanied to the consultation, since after the anesthesia he/she must receive support to move around. The doctor should also inform the patient if he/she should take painkillers after the operation, which is not usually necessary.
Finally, the risks involved in ureteroscopy are few, but they must be taken into account. Perforation of the ureter or late stricture may occur during the test, although both are quite unlikely.