Treatment of ureteral calculi with an 8.3-Fr. disposable shaft rigid ureteroscope

One hundred forty-two adult patients underwent ureteroscopy for treatment of ureteral calculi using a disposable shaft semirigid mini-ureteroscope. The ureteroscope has an 8.3-French (Fr.) outer diameter with a fiberoptic core that allows some flexibility of the shaft. It has a 4.0-Fr. working channel that allows simultaneous use of 3-Fr. instruments and irrigation. Twenty-nine patients had upper ureteral calculi and 113 patients had lower ureteral calculi. Forty-eight patients did not require ureteral dilation, and the remainder had minimal dilation to 10-12 Fr. One hundred fifteen patients underwent laser lithotripsy, 15 patients underwent basket extraction, and 12 patients underwent both. Ten patients required use of a flexible ureteroscope. Ninety-three percent of the patients went home the day of the procedure, 4% stayed one night in the hospital, and the remaining three percent had longer hospital stays. No major complications or infections were noted. Only 11% of the patients required intravenous or intramuscular narcotics for pain management postoperatively. The stone-free results at one month were 98% for lower ureteral calculi and 93% for upper ureteral calculi. We have found this ureteroscope to be similar to other rigid mini-ureteroscopes with some additional advantages. A larger working channel, increased flexibility, and improved optics make it useful for treating ureteral calculi in the lower ureter in men and the entire ureter in selected women.