Research progress on treating urinary system stones using ureteroscopy combined With a negative-pressure suction
Junqiang Liang1, Hui Xiao1, Song Yu1
1Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Chuzhou City, Chuzhou City, Anhui, China.
Frontiers in Surgery
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Suction sheaths improve ureteroscopy (kidney stone removal) by clearing debris and stabilizing vision. This enhances procedure efficiency and patient safety, particularly in complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Endourology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Ureteroscopy is a key treatment for kidney and ureteral stones.
- Challenges include unstable vision from debris, fragment migration, and increased intrarenal pressure, risking infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on suction sheaths used with ureteroscopy.
- To analyze device design, irrigation-suction dynamics, standardization, and clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies on ureteroscopy with suction sheaths.
- Extracted data on stone characteristics, device specs, irrigation/suction variables, and outcomes (stone-free rates, operative time, complications).
Main Results:
- Suction-assisted flow improves optical clarity and fragment evacuation.
- Reduces pressure surges during lithotripsy, potentially lowering infectious complication risk.
- Tradeoffs include mucosal collapse risk and need for standardization.
Conclusions:
- Suction-assisted ureteroscopy offers a systems approach to enhance safety and efficacy.
- Beneficial for high-dusting cases, obstructed systems, and challenging anatomy.
- Standardized reporting and multicenter trials are needed for wider adoption.
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