Obstetric complications of ureteroscopy during pregnancy - Abstract

PURPOSE:During pregnancy a ureteral stone and its management may pose risks for the mother and fetus.

Definitive ureteroscopic management of an obstructing stone during pregnancy has been increasingly used without a reported increased incidence of urological complications. However, the rate of obstetric complications of ureteroscopy during pregnancy remains undefined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:Charts of pregnant women who had undergone ureteroscopy at 5 tertiary centers were reviewed. Patient and procedure characteristics were collected. Records were evaluated for the occurrence of obstetric complications in the postoperative period.

RESULTS:A total of 46 procedures were performed in 45 patients at 5 institutions. There were 2 obstetric complications (4.3%), including 1 preterm labor managed conservatively and 1 preterm labor resulting in preterm delivery. There was no fetal loss. No statistically significant characteristics were identified differentiating those patients having obstetric complications.

CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroscopy performed during pregnancy has been previously reported to be urologically safe and effective for addressing ureteral stones. In our multi-institutional series a 4% rate of obstetric complications was observed. Based on this risk a multidisciplinary approach is prudent for the pregnant patient undergoing ureteroscopy.

Written by:
Johnson EB, Krambeck AE, White WM, Hyams E, Beddies J, Marien T, Shah O, Matlaga B, Pais VM Jr.   Are you the author?
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA.

Reference: J Urol. 2012 Jul;188(1):151-4.
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.02.2566


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22591961

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