Treatment Modalities and Postoperative Outcomes in Ureterolithiasis

Background: Ureterolithiasis is a common urological emergency with varying management strategies, ranging from medical expulsive therapy to surgical interventions.Optimal treatment selection depends on multiple factors, including stone size, location, and the availability of healthcare resources.Despite advances in minimally invasive techniques, limited data exist from resource-constrained settings comparing outcomes across different treatment modalities.This study aimed to evaluate the treatment modalities and short-term postoperative outcomes of patients with ureterolithiasis in a tertiary care hospital.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital from December 2013 to May 2014.Fifty-eight patients with ureterolithiasis who underwent conservative or interventional treatment were enrolled in the study.The treatment modalities included extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), intracorporeal pneumatic lithotripsy (ICPL), open ureterolithotomy, and expectant medical therapy.Data on demographic characteristics, treatment distribution, complications, and stone clearance were analyzed using SPSS (version 21).Results: The majority of patients were male (62.1%) and aged 31-40 years (36.2%).ESWL was the most common treatment (36.2%), followed by open ureterolithotomy (31%) and ICPL (22.4%).Open surgery demonstrated the highest stone clearance rate (100%), followed by expectant management (83.3%),ESWL (80.9%), and ICPL (76.9%).Postoperative complications were infrequent, with urinary tract infections (17.2%) being the most common complication.Conclusion: Open ureterolithotomy yielded superior clearance rates, although minimally invasive techniques remain effective and preferred where available.Individualized treatment decisions guided by clinical and logistical factors are essential for optimizing outcomes in ureterolithiasis.