[Current treatment of ureteral lithiasis].

The treatment of ureteral lithiasis has undergone a revolution since the arrival of new techniques offering different therapeutical choices for which time is gradually elucidating the indications for each of the new procedures; although, to a large extent, a degree of controversy still persists. This paper reviews the different methods for ureteral lithiasis; spontaneous ejection and medical treatment, surgery, early endoscopic manoeuvres, backward and forward urethroscopy and, finally, extracorporeal lithority. This therapeutical experience in 3 series of ureteral lithiasis addressed with different criteria are revised together with 182 obstructive calculi of the lumbar ureter. We believe that grading the ureteral calculi according to their anatomical and functional features improves the results, since improved adjustment can be achieved for the indications of the various methods. Also it is noted that support endourology for extracorporeal lithotrity does not improve the results of treatment in lumbar calculi under 2 cm, and therefore our current approach is towards "in situ" treatment without complementary manoeuvres. Finally we show the therapeutic algorithm we are following actually to manage ureteral litiasis.