Prof. Dr. Emel Akoğlu
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- 57+years exp.
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Kidney Stones
Ureteroscopy
What ureteroscopy is, how a thin scope examines and treats the ureter and kidney, which conditions it is used for besides stones, how rigid and flexible scopes differ, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, what the stent and recovery are like, risks and how to check a urology hospital.
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Prof. Dr. Zerrin Biçik Bahçebaşı
UrologyVerified
- 37+years exp.
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Ureteroscopy in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Ureteroscopy is an endoscopic procedure in which a very thin telescope, the ureteroscope, is passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter and, if needed, up into the kidney. It lets a urologist look directly at the lining of the urinary tract and treat what is found through the same scope, without any cut in the skin. The scope is only 2 to 3 mm wide at its tip, and a working channel allows tiny instruments, such as baskets, biopsy forceps and laser fibres, to be passed alongside the camera.
Ureteroscopy is both a diagnostic and a treatment tool. It is mostly known for stone removal, but it is also used to investigate blood in the urine, to biopsy suspicious areas, to treat narrowings and to place or remove stents. This guide explains what it is used for, how rigid and flexible scopes differ, what it costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, and what recovery is like. For the wider field see our urology treatments in Turkey.
What is ureteroscopy used for?
The urologist may recommend ureteroscopy in these situations:
- Stones in the ureter or kidney that are causing pain, infection or blockage, or have not passed. This is its most common use; see our guide to kidney stones.
- Unexplained blood in the urine when scans and bladder checks have not found the source.
- A suspicious area on a scan or in urine tests, so a small biopsy can be taken from the ureter or kidney lining.
- Small tumours of the upper urinary tract, which can sometimes be treated through the scope with a laser in selected patients.
- Narrowings (strictures) of the ureter, which can be widened with a balloon or small incision.
- Stent insertion or removal, or retrieving a lost stent or foreign body.
When the stone is large or hard, the procedure is combined with laser energy: see ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for that step in detail.
Rigid, semi-rigid or flexible ureteroscope: what is the difference?
There are three types of scope, and the surgeon often has more than one ready.
| Type | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-rigid ureteroscope | Stones and problems in the lower and middle ureter | Cannot bend to reach the kidney |
| Flexible ureteroscope (reusable) | Upper ureter and kidney, including stones in awkward positions | More delicate; wear over time can affect image quality |
| Single-use digital flexible scope | Kidney stones and tumours, with a sharp image and no reprocessing | Costs more per case; some are less steerable |
The choice depends on where the problem is. The type of scope is one of the factors that changes the price, so ask which is planned.
How is ureteroscopy done, step by step?
The procedure normally takes 30 to 90 minutes under general anaesthesia, although some diagnostic examinations are done under sedation. The urologist first looks inside the bladder with a cystoscope; see our guide to cystoscopy for that part. A guidewire is then passed up the ureter under X-ray control, and the ureteroscope is advanced alongside it. The ureter is inspected along its length and the kidney is checked, with sterile fluid used to widen the space and keep the view clear. Any stone is broken or removed, any biopsy is taken and any narrowing is treated. At the end, a ureteral stent is often left in to keep the ureter open while it heals, particularly after stone treatment, when the ureter was swollen or narrow, or when a sheath was used.
Does ureteroscopy work, and how effective is it?
As a diagnostic tool it shows what scans can miss: the colour, surface and small growths of the urinary lining. As a stone treatment, the European Association of Urology guidelines treat it as a standard option, and most patients with ureteral stones are cleared in one session. For large stones in the kidney, success is lower and a second step or a different method such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy may be advised. Results depend on stone size, hardness and position, ureter anatomy and the surgeon's experience. The procedure cannot prevent new stones from forming, so prevention advice matters.
Ureteroscopy cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for a single procedure, not hospital quotes. Costs vary with the reason for the procedure, the scope used and whether a laser, biopsy or stent is part of it.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €1,500 – €4,000 |
| United Kingdom | €3,500 – €8,500 |
| United States | €6,000 – €18,000 |
| Germany | €3,000 – €7,500 |
What changes the price: diagnostic or therapeutic use, laser use, single-use or reusable scope, stent and later removal, day-case or overnight stay, and the imaging and tests required. A clear package lists the consultation, scan review, procedure, anaesthetist, stent, stay, medication and follow-up. Ask whether stent removal is included. The page on how it works shows how written quotes are prepared.
Is ureteroscopy painful, and what does recovery look like?
You are anaesthetised during the operation, so you feel nothing. Afterwards a stent or the scope itself causes urgency, a burning feeling when passing urine, pink urine and an ache in the flank for a few days. Painkillers, plenty of fluid and, where prescribed, bladder-calming tablets help. Fever, severe pain, heavy bleeding with clots or being unable to pass urine need urgent care.
- Day 0 to 1: most patients go home the same day or the next morning.
- Days 2 to 7: light activity and desk work as symptoms allow. Blood in the urine fades.
- Week 1 to 2: the stent, if one was placed, is removed through a short flexible cystoscopy or by a thread.
- Weeks 2 to 4: exercise and heavier activity resume with the surgeon's agreement.
Plan to stay in Turkey for two to four days after the operation, or about 7 to 10 days if you want any stent removed before flying. After a diagnostic-only examination without a stent, many people fly within a day or two.
Ureteroscopy or cystoscopy: what is the difference?
The two are often confused. A cystoscopy looks only into the bladder and urethra, and is usually a short examination with a flexible scope under local anaesthetic gel. Ureteroscopy goes further, through the bladder and up the ureter into the kidney, and almost always needs anaesthesia because the instruments are passed through narrow tubes. If the problem is in the bladder, a cystoscopy is enough; if it is higher up, ureteroscopy is required. Many patients have both in the same session.
What are the risks of ureteroscopy?
The NHS and the European Association of Urology list the common risks as urinary infection, blood in the urine, stent discomfort and temporary urgency. Less common are injury or tear of the ureter, later narrowing of the ureter, retained stone fragments needing another procedure and the usual risks of anaesthesia. A urine test before surgery and, if needed, antibiotics lower the risk of infection. Serious complications are uncommon, and most are reduced when the operation is carried out by an experienced team with X-ray guidance.
How do I choose a urology hospital, and what are the red flags?
Choose a licensed hospital with a urologist who performs ureteroscopy every week, flexible and rigid scopes available, X-ray in the theatre, an anaesthetist and a plan for stents. You should get a written plan based on your own scan reports. Red flags include a quote without images or a reason for the procedure, a promise that the problem is fixed in one visit, no named surgeon, no plan for stent removal and no contact after you leave. Send your reports through our free quote page.
What should I ask the clinic before booking?
- Why is ureteroscopy recommended for me, and what will it show or treat?
- Which scope will be used, and is laser or a biopsy included?
- Will a stent be placed, how long will it stay and who removes it?
- How many ureteroscopies does the surgeon perform each year?
- What happens if a second procedure is needed, and what does it cost?
- Will any biopsy or stone be analysed, and when do I get the result?
- How soon can I fly home?
Hospitals with Urology in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Ureteroscopy is an examination and treatment of the ureter and kidney with a thin telescope passed through the urethra and bladder. It needs no skin cut and is used for stones, bleeding, biopsies and narrowings.
It is used to remove or break kidney and ureteral stones, find the cause of blood in the urine, take biopsies, treat small upper-tract tumours or narrowings, and to place, change or remove stents, depending on what your scans suggest.
Approximate ranges are €1,500 to €4,000 in Turkey, against about €3,500 to €8,500 in the UK. The price depends on the reason, scope, laser use, stent and hospital stay; the hospital confirms its price in a written quote.
You are under anaesthesia during the procedure. Afterwards you may have urgency, burning, pink urine and flank ache for a few days, particularly with a stent. Painkillers, plenty of fluids and rest usually keep it manageable, and it settles once any stent is out.
Most people go home within a day, return to desk work within a few days and resume exercise after one to two weeks. If a stent is placed, its symptoms last until it is removed, so ask for the removal date.
A cystoscopy looks only inside the bladder and urethra, often with local anaesthetic. Ureteroscopy continues up the ureter into the kidney and normally needs general anaesthesia, so it is a bigger procedure used to treat as well as to look. Many patients have both in one session.
Often, but not always. Stents are common after stone treatment or a swollen ureter and are removed after a few days to two weeks. The urologist decides on what was found during the operation, and removal is planned in advance.
It is a common and generally safe procedure. Risks include infection, bleeding, stent symptoms, ureter injury and later narrowing, which are uncommon when an experienced team uses proper imaging and a urine test beforehand, so choose a urologist who performs it regularly.
It can treat kidney stones up to about 2 cm, sometimes in stages. Larger stones are usually treated by percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which uses a small cut in the back to reach the kidney directly, and your urologist will explain which route suits you.
Plan two to four days after the procedure, or 7 to 10 days if a stent must be removed before you fly. After a diagnostic-only examination many people can fly within a day or two.
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