RETROGRADE INTRARENAL LITHOTRIPSY USING DISPOSABLE FLEXIBLE URETEROSCOPE

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Flexible ureteroscopes are crucial for minimally invasive kidney stone treatment.
• Evaluating the efficiency of single-use flexible ureteroscopes is essential for optimizing urological procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the efficiency of single-use flexible ureteroscopes in terms of surgical time, stone-free rates, and complication incidence.
• To assess the clinical utility and success of these devices in treating renal stones.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study conducted at Basrah Urological Centre from March 2022 to April 2023.
• Inclusion of 108 adult patients (age > 20) undergoing ureteroscopy for renal stones, excluding specific comorbidities.
• Standardized surgical technique performed by a single surgeon, with detailed recording of stone characteristics (burden, density) and procedural outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study involved 108 patients (39.8% male, 60.2% female), with a mean age of 39.2 years.
• Average stone burden was 9.7±2.9 mm, with an average density of 1000.8±279.3 HU.
• Treatment with single-use flexible ureteroscopes was found to be less complicated and more successful.

Conclusions:

• Single-use flexible ureteroscopes provide an effective and successful method for treating renal stones.
• The characterized efficiency suggests a favorable profile for these devices in urological practice.
• Further research can explore long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.