Introduction: Urinary lithiasis represents a significant part of urological practice. Today, it is mainly treated endoscopically. The advent of the flexible ureteroscope (FUS) and laser has further improved the treatment of renal stones. In this paper, we report on our experience in terms of indications and results. Patient and methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2024, in the urology department of the Libreville University Hospital and a partner private clinic (SOS Medecins). The study included the complete records of patients who underwent semi-rigid or flexible ureteroscopy for upper urinary tract stones with laser fragmentation. The parameters studied were gender, age, reason for consultation, medical history, characteristics of the lithiasis, laterality, indication, duration of the procedure, occurrence of any incidents or accidents, length of hospital stay, and outcome. Success was defined as the absence of lithiasis or the presence of lithiasis fragments less than 3 mm in diameter. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 software; means, standard deviations, frequencies, and extremes were calculated. Results:88 laser ureteroscopies were performed on 82 patients. There were 55 men and 33 women, giving a sex ratio of 1.7. The average age was 42.97 years (range 21 to 77 years). The main reason for consultation was renal colic in 70 patients (79.54%), followed by chronic low back pain in 12 patients (13.64%). The stones were unilateral in 75 patients (91.5%) and bilateral in 7 (8.5%). The locations were mainly pyelic and middle calyceal (19.3% each). The average size of the stones was 8 mm (ranging from 3 to 35 mm). The overall success rate was 93.9%. Postoperatively, complications were minor according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and occurred in 6.1% of cases. The average length of hospital stay was 3 days. Conclusion: The treatment of upper urinary tract lithiasis by laser ureteroscopy has been effective in Libreville for 10 years, despite its high cost, which limits its use. Its practice is becoming commonplace in view of the advantages it offers compared to conventional surgery.
| Published in | International Journal of Clinical Urology (Volume 10, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12 |
| Page(s) | 6-9 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Urinary Lithiasis, Ureteroscopy, Laser
| [1] | Ondziel Opara AS, Odzébé AWS1, Ondongo Atipo AM et al. Upper Urinary Tract Lithiasis: Epidemiological, Diagnostic, and Therapeutic Aspects in 240 Cases at the Brazzaville University Hospital Center. Health Sci. 2019; 20 (1): 60-63. |
| [2] | Carlier M, Baboudjian M, Govidin L et al Single-use versus reusable flexible ureteroscope: technical and medical-economic aspects. Prog en urol. 2021; 31: 937-942. |
| [3] | Carpentier X, Amiel J. Endoscopic surgery for ureteral stones. EMC (Elsevier Masson SAS, Paris), Surgical techniques -Urologie. 2010; 41-147. |
| [4] | Padja E, Amboulou Ibarra V, Lmezguidi K et al. Flexible laser ureteroscopy in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones: results from 166 procedures. PanAfrican medical journal. 2015; 22:13. |
| [5] | Niang L, Paré AK, Ndoye M et al. Retrograde ureteroscopy: Experience at Grand Yoff General Hospital in Dakar African Journal of Urology. 2016; 22: 110-114. |
| [6] | Mbaeri TU, Onu OA, Odo C, Nwadi UV. Ureteroscopy and Holmium: YAG Laser Lithotripsy For Upper Tract Stones In a New Urology Centre: Our Initial Experience. Niger Med J. 2023; 64(2): 259-2676. |
| [7] | Mbouche LO, Mbassi AA, Eloundou Nkolo JC. Epidemiology and diagnosis of urinary lithiasis: a cross-sectional study in a Cameroonian population PanAfrican Med j. 2023; 45(61): 1-10. |
| [8] | Rezaee ME, Ward CE, Pollock M, Shetty SD. Association between multiple chronic conditions and urolithiasis. Int Urol Nephrol. 2017; 49(8): 1361-1367. |
| [9] | Ondziel-Opara SA, Atipo AMO, Okemba GO, Mouss RBB, Nyanga YID, Odzebe AWS et al. Epidemiological profile of patients suffering from urolithiasis in African urological environments from 2016 to 2020. Open J Urol. 2022; 9; 12(2): 157-67. |
| [10] | Boudhaye TI, Tah F, Mohamed T, Abdelmalick A. Ureteroscopy and urinary pathologies at the Nouakchott military hospital: two-year review. International Journal of Advanced Research. 2018; 6(2): 14-23. |
| [11] | Olufunmilade O, Muftau B, Omolara W et al. A 5-Year review of the presentation and management of urolithiasis in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Journal of Surgery. 2019; 7(5): 143-147. |
| [12] | Ze Ondo C, Fall B, Sow Y, Thiam A et al. Extracorporeal lithotripsy: experience of a Senegalese center African journal of Urology. 2018; 24(4): 319-323. |
| [13] | Ouattara Z, Effoe A D, Tembely A et al. Study of 72 cases of upper urinary tract lithiasis in the urology department of Point G Hospital. Le Mali Médical. 2004; 19:1-3. |
| [14] | Cassell A, Jalloh M, Ndoye M et al. Surgical Management of Urolithiasis of the Upper Tract- Current Trend of Endourology in Africa. Research and reports in Urology. 2020; 12: 225 - 238. |
| [15] | Berthe H. J. G, Cisse D, Diallo M. S, Kassogue A et al. Our first experience with Holmium-YAG laser ureteroscopy in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones. Uro’Andro. 2020; 2(3): 108-111. |
| [16] | Ben Saddik M A, Al-Qahtani Sejiny S, Ndoye M et al. Flexible ureteroscopy in the treatment of kidney stones measuring 2 to 3 cm. Prog en urol. 2011; 21: 327-332. |
| [17] | Jian-Sheng Huang, Jing Xie, Xiang-Jiang Huang et al. Flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for renal stones 2 cm or greater. Medecine. 2020; 99(43): 1-5. |
APA Style
Dimitri, M., Steevy, N. N. M., Elvir, A. M., Georges, A., Pauline, N. M., et al. (2026). Laser Ureteroscopy for Calculi in the Upper Urinary Tract: Bicentric Study, Urology Department of Libreville University Hospital, SOS Medecins Clinic. International Journal of Clinical Urology, 10(1), 6-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12
ACS Style
Dimitri, M.; Steevy, N. N. M.; Elvir, A. M.; Georges, A.; Pauline, N. M., et al. Laser Ureteroscopy for Calculi in the Upper Urinary Tract: Bicentric Study, Urology Department of Libreville University Hospital, SOS Medecins Clinic. Int. J. Clin. Urol. 2026, 10(1), 6-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12
AMA Style
Dimitri M, Steevy NNM, Elvir AM, Georges A, Pauline NM, et al. Laser Ureteroscopy for Calculi in the Upper Urinary Tract: Bicentric Study, Urology Department of Libreville University Hospital, SOS Medecins Clinic. Int J Clin Urol. 2026;10(1):6-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12
@article{10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12,
author = {Mbethe Dimitri and Ndang Ngou Milama Steevy and Adande Menest Elvir and Ayeme Georges and Nzalimbaninenou Mboula Pauline and Allogho Mbouye Gloire and Bissiriou Izoudine and Mougougou Adrien},
title = {Laser Ureteroscopy for Calculi in the Upper Urinary Tract: Bicentric Study, Urology Department of Libreville University Hospital, SOS Medecins Clinic},
journal = {International Journal of Clinical Urology},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {6-9},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcu.20261001.12},
abstract = {Introduction: Urinary lithiasis represents a significant part of urological practice. Today, it is mainly treated endoscopically. The advent of the flexible ureteroscope (FUS) and laser has further improved the treatment of renal stones. In this paper, we report on our experience in terms of indications and results. Patient and methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2024, in the urology department of the Libreville University Hospital and a partner private clinic (SOS Medecins). The study included the complete records of patients who underwent semi-rigid or flexible ureteroscopy for upper urinary tract stones with laser fragmentation. The parameters studied were gender, age, reason for consultation, medical history, characteristics of the lithiasis, laterality, indication, duration of the procedure, occurrence of any incidents or accidents, length of hospital stay, and outcome. Success was defined as the absence of lithiasis or the presence of lithiasis fragments less than 3 mm in diameter. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 software; means, standard deviations, frequencies, and extremes were calculated. Results:88 laser ureteroscopies were performed on 82 patients. There were 55 men and 33 women, giving a sex ratio of 1.7. The average age was 42.97 years (range 21 to 77 years). The main reason for consultation was renal colic in 70 patients (79.54%), followed by chronic low back pain in 12 patients (13.64%). The stones were unilateral in 75 patients (91.5%) and bilateral in 7 (8.5%). The locations were mainly pyelic and middle calyceal (19.3% each). The average size of the stones was 8 mm (ranging from 3 to 35 mm). The overall success rate was 93.9%. Postoperatively, complications were minor according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and occurred in 6.1% of cases. The average length of hospital stay was 3 days. Conclusion: The treatment of upper urinary tract lithiasis by laser ureteroscopy has been effective in Libreville for 10 years, despite its high cost, which limits its use. Its practice is becoming commonplace in view of the advantages it offers compared to conventional surgery.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Laser Ureteroscopy for Calculi in the Upper Urinary Tract: Bicentric Study, Urology Department of Libreville University Hospital, SOS Medecins Clinic AU - Mbethe Dimitri AU - Ndang Ngou Milama Steevy AU - Adande Menest Elvir AU - Ayeme Georges AU - Nzalimbaninenou Mboula Pauline AU - Allogho Mbouye Gloire AU - Bissiriou Izoudine AU - Mougougou Adrien Y1 - 2026/02/09 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12 DO - 10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12 T2 - International Journal of Clinical Urology JF - International Journal of Clinical Urology JO - International Journal of Clinical Urology SP - 6 EP - 9 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2640-1355 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcu.20261001.12 AB - Introduction: Urinary lithiasis represents a significant part of urological practice. Today, it is mainly treated endoscopically. The advent of the flexible ureteroscope (FUS) and laser has further improved the treatment of renal stones. In this paper, we report on our experience in terms of indications and results. Patient and methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study conducted between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2024, in the urology department of the Libreville University Hospital and a partner private clinic (SOS Medecins). The study included the complete records of patients who underwent semi-rigid or flexible ureteroscopy for upper urinary tract stones with laser fragmentation. The parameters studied were gender, age, reason for consultation, medical history, characteristics of the lithiasis, laterality, indication, duration of the procedure, occurrence of any incidents or accidents, length of hospital stay, and outcome. Success was defined as the absence of lithiasis or the presence of lithiasis fragments less than 3 mm in diameter. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 software; means, standard deviations, frequencies, and extremes were calculated. Results:88 laser ureteroscopies were performed on 82 patients. There were 55 men and 33 women, giving a sex ratio of 1.7. The average age was 42.97 years (range 21 to 77 years). The main reason for consultation was renal colic in 70 patients (79.54%), followed by chronic low back pain in 12 patients (13.64%). The stones were unilateral in 75 patients (91.5%) and bilateral in 7 (8.5%). The locations were mainly pyelic and middle calyceal (19.3% each). The average size of the stones was 8 mm (ranging from 3 to 35 mm). The overall success rate was 93.9%. Postoperatively, complications were minor according to the Clavien-Dindo classification and occurred in 6.1% of cases. The average length of hospital stay was 3 days. Conclusion: The treatment of upper urinary tract lithiasis by laser ureteroscopy has been effective in Libreville for 10 years, despite its high cost, which limits its use. Its practice is becoming commonplace in view of the advantages it offers compared to conventional surgery. VL - 10 IS - 1 ER -