Percutaneous management of ureteral calculi facilitated by retrograde flushing with carbon dioxide or diluted radiopaque dye

Of 356 patients in whom percutaneous nephrostomy was performed at this institution 59 had ureteral stones. In our experience with the first 36 patients antegrade techniques for ureteral stone extraction had many assets but sometimes they were difficult. Recently, we incorporated a retrograde flushing technique, using carbon dioxide and diluted radiopaque dye, into our percutaneous approach to ureteral stones. Based on our experience with this technique in the next 23 consecutive patients, we believe that percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and retrograde flushing should be added to the armamentarium of urologists committed to the percutaneous endourological approach to ureteral stones.