Taking the mystery out of ureteroscopy

Ureteroscopy can be one of the more challenging procedures performed in the urology department. For perioperative nurses who rotate through the urology department and are not familiar with the various stents, wires, baskets, and other specialty equipment, the procedure is not only challenging, but also mysterious. This article enhances nurses' knowledge of urology by describing the steps and equipment of ureteroscopy, including access (i.e., using wires, ureteral catheters, and specialty catheters); dilation (i.e., using balloons, self-dilating scopes, and sequential and coaxial dilation); manipulation (i.e., using baskets, graspers, biopsy devices, and intracorporeal lithotripsy equipment); and stenting (i.e., using multilength or pigtail stents). Knowledge of these factors can help clear up the mystery of ureteroscopy, allowing nurses to better understand the procedure and better manage its complex inventory.