One-session bilateral ureteroscopy: is it safe in selected patients?

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility to perform bilateral ureteroscopy in one session and to determine the procedure's indications and complication rate. Twenty-two patients underwent bilateral ureteroscopy in one session. Eighteen patients had bilateral lithiasis of the lower ureteral third, three patients had unexplained haematuria and one had unexplained bilateral hydronephrosis. The rigid ureteroscope was used in cases with stones and the flexible one in cases with haematuria and hydronephrosis. Ureteral catheters were placed in all patients. The overall stone-free rate was 83.3%. The procedure failed to confirm a diagnosis in 2 patients with unexplained haematuria. Follow-up included IVU and retrograde cystogram 3 months after the procedure and a renal scan one year later. No major complication was observed. It is concluded that bilateral ureteroscopy in one session can be performed safely in selected patients. The method does not yield major complications and saves patients from a second procedure and a second anaesthesia.