Ureteroscopy under local anesthesia.

Ureteroscopy has been performed with local anesthesia with and without sedation in 30 patients. Flexible endoscopes were used in 18, rigid endoscopes alone in 7, and rigid and flexible instruments in 5 patients. The flexible instruments ranged in size from 4F to 10F, while rigid instruments were 10F to 12F. Although most procedures were diagnostic, calculi were removed from the distal ureter in 4 patients and from the midureter in 1 patient. Ultrasonic lithotripsy was utilized in 1 patient. The success and tolerance of flexible or distal rigid ureteroscopy with local anesthesia permits its recommendation in carefully selected patients.