Clinical Comparison between Three Single-Use Flexible Ureteroscope Models: A Real-World Experience

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Limited comparative studies exist for single-use flexible ureteroscopes (su-fURS).
• Evaluating different su-fURS models is crucial for optimizing upper urinary tract stone treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical outcomes of three su-fURS models: Uscope 3022, LithoVue, and EU-scope.
• To assess efficacy and procedural efficiency in upper urinary tract stone treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 325 patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy for upper urinary tract stones (Sept 2019-2021).
• Comparison of Uscope 3022 (104 cases), LithoVue (141 cases), and EU-scope (80 cases).
• Key outcome measures included stone-free rate (SFR), surgery time, fluoroscopy time, and complications.

Main Results:

• All three su-fURS models achieved comparable stone-free rates (79% Uscope, 77.5% LithoVue, 81% EU-scope; p=0.38).
• Significant differences were observed in total surgery and fluoroscopy times, favoring the EU-scope (p < 0.001).
• Ureteral access sheath use also differed significantly between the devices (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• The Uscope 3022, LithoVue, and EU-scope are highly effective for kidney stone treatment.
• The EU-scope demonstrated superior efficiency in terms of surgical and fluoroscopy time.
• Differences in procedural efficiency may be attributed to technical device characteristics like diameter, optics, and field of view.