Ureteroscopy

Ureteroscopy (or upper urinary tract endoscopy) is usually performed by passing an endoscope through the urethra, bladder, and then directly into the upper urinary tract. The therapeutic uses of ureteroscopy have developed to include a number of minimally invasive therapies or for diagnostic endoscopy. This technique may used diagnostically when assessing obstruction or unilateral essential haematuria, localizing the source of positive urinary cytology results or investigating abnormal imaging findings.

Ureteroscopy is normally carried out as an outpatient procedure. After a ureteroscopy most patients have an uneventful recovery and are discharged home the same day. If a hospital stay is required, the stay is usually just overnight and no more than 24 to 48 hours.