Ureteral Balloon Complications in Ureteroscopy

Aim: Complications of ureteral balloon used in the endoscopic treatment of ureteral stones were investigated.Material and Method: This retrospective study evaluated patients who underwent ureteral balloon dilatation by a single surgeon between 2015 and 2018 and followed up for at least one year.Intraoperative complications were determined according to the modified Satava complication classification, while postoperative complications were determined according to the Clavien classification.In the postoperative follow-up, patients with a residual stone size of less than 4 mm were considered successful treatment.Results: A total of 54 patients were included in this investigation.Stones were detected in the kidney in 16 (29.6%)patients and the ureter in 38 (70.4%) patients.The ureteroscope diameters used in those operations were 8.5-11.5 fr., and the ureteral access sheath diameters were 10-12 fr.Balloon dilatation was performed in 20 (37.1%) patients because the ureteral access sheath could not be passed and in 34 (62.9%)patients because the ureteroscopy could not be passed.Successful treatment was achieved in 47 (87.03%) patients.Due to balloon dilatation, intraoperative complications developed in 5 (9.2%) patients.Perforation was observed in 1 (1.85%) patient, lost access and subsequent ureteral stricture in 1 (1.85%) patient, and mucosal injury in 3 (5.55%)cases.General complications (fever, hematuria, calculus, and late ureteral stricture) were reported in 6 (11.1%) patients. Conclusion: The surgeon's experience does not reduce ureteral balloon complications.There is a need for more studies by experienced surgeons who are well standardized on this subject.