UreteroPyeloVisClear catheter: a new frontier in ureteroscopic lithotripsy for ureteral stones

Conventional semirigid ureteroscopy for ureteral stones faces challenges such as stone retropulsion, poor intraoperative vision, and elevated intrarenal pressure. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of a novel multi-channel negative pressure suction catheter (UreteroPyeloVisClear Catheter, VCC) in ureteroscopic lithotripsy. To compare the performance of VCC with conventional rigid ureteroscopy, this study evaluated operative time, stone clearance rates, and complication incidence between VCC and traditional semirigid ureteroscopy. A prospective cohort study included 42 patients with ureteral stones (diameter ≤ 2.0 cm), randomized into VCC (n = 21) and traditional (n = 21) groups. The VCC group utilized an integrated negative pressure suction and active water circulation system, while the traditional group used standard semirigid ureteroscopy. The primary outcome was operative time, with secondary outcomes including stone clearance rates, retropulsion incidence, basket utilization, and complication rates. The VCC group demonstrated significantly shorter operative time (39.95 ± 10.24 vs. 53.00 ± 26.95 min, p = 0.001) and reduced basket utilization (5% vs. 57%, p < 0.001). Stone retropulsion rates were lower in the VCC group (5% vs. 14%, p = 0.294), though not statistically significant. Both groups achieved 100% stone-free rates at 1 month. Postoperative pain scores (VCC: 0.90 ± 1.36 vs. traditional: 1.24 ± 1.49) and complication rates (0% vs. 5%) showed no significant differences. The VCC significantly reduces operative time and reliance on auxiliary instruments while maintaining safety and stone-free outcomes. Its innovative design addresses key limitations of traditional ureteroscopy, offering a promising advancement for ureteral stone management.