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Retrograde endopyelotomy using an original home-made diathermy probe
E G Silva1, C C Rabaça, A C Figueiredo
1Department of Urology and Transplantation, University Hospital of Coimbra, Portugal.
Purpose:
To describe an easily home-made diathermy probe for the performance of retrograde endopyelotomies using a small-caliber rigid ureteroscope.
Methods:
The diathermy probe is easily built by putting a rigid guidewire through a 5F ureteral catheter, the distal tip being naked and slightly bent. The other end is linked to the electric generator. Among a total of 24 retrograde endopyelotomies performed to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction in the last 7 years, five were done using this device.
Results:
Surgery with the probe took an average of 30 minutes. There were no complications, and, as of today, all cases are successes.
Conclusion:
This device allows the performance of retrograde endopyelotomy using a small-caliber ureteroscope. Long-term results will presumably match the good results obtained using the larger-caliber ureteroscopes with the classic cold knife.