Definition: Similar to ureteral lithotripsy, but a longer, flexible ureteroscope is used to access and treat stones located inside the kidney itself.
Procedure Steps: Identical to ureteral lithotripsy, but using a flexible ureteroscope that can be maneuvered into the delicate collecting system of the kidney.
Purpose / Benefits:
Purpose: To treat kidney stones that are causing pain, infection, obstruction, or are too large to pass.
• Benefits:
o A minimally invasive alternative to shockwave therapy (ESWL) or percutaneous surgery (PCNL) for medium-sized stones.
o Direct visualization and high success rate.