[Place of the ureteroscopy in the treatment of the children urolithiasis].

OBJECTIVE:To determine the efficiency and the role of ureteroscopy in the treatment of urolithiasis in children. METHODS:A multicenter retrospective study was conducted between January 2006 and March 2008 in the department of pediatric surgery and urology of Besançon, Lyon and Grenoble. The clinical data of 17 children having benefited from one or more ureteroscopy procedures for urolithiasis were analyzed. These data concerned age, sex, antecedents of metabolic diseases, existence of a malformed uropathy, how the urolithiasis was discovered, therapeutic indications, endoscopic procedures, type of endoscopic treatment for urolithiasis, results and complications. RESULTS:Twenty-six ureteroscopies were carried out for 17 children (eight girls and nine boys) aged between 9 months and 12 years (mean: 5 (1/2) years old) as a first-line treatment or after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. A 6/7,5 Fr semi-rigid ureteroscope was used in all case. Only once, the operator chose a flexible ureteroscope. Lithotripsy was carried out 15 times with YAG Holmium laser, four times with Swiss Lithoclast and six times by simple extraction with a Dormia type basket .A stent probe was left in place after endoscopy for 14 children. The "stone free" rate was 88% with an average hindsight of 11 months. Two incidents without major complication were recorded: a section of the guide by the laser beam and a perforation with extravasation of the contrast agent. CONCLUSION:Ureteroscopy is the first-line treatment in isolated ureteral urolithiasis. On the other hand, LEC remains the treatment of choice for Starghon calculi, since LIC should be offered only in the event of failure of LEC.