https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2021.3.326

Comparison of a single-use, digital flexible ureteroscope with a reusable, fiberoptic ureteroscope for management of patients with urolithiasis

Vol. 93 No. 3 (2021)
Submitted: July 11, 2021
Accepted: July 25, 2021
Published: October 1, 2021
Urolithiasis, Flexible ureteroscope, Kidney stone disease, Digital ureteroscope, Single-use ureteroscope, Fiber-optic ureteroscope, Reusable ureteroscope
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Authors

Panagiotis Mourmouris
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2nd University Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Lazaros Tzelves
lazarostzelves@gmail.com
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2nd University Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Grigorios Raptidis
251 Airforce General Hospital, Urology Department, Athens, Greece.
Marinos Berdempes
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2nd University Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Titos Markopoulos
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2nd University Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Grigorios Dellis
251 Airforce General Hospital, Urology Department, Athens, Greece.
Ioannis Siafakas
251 Airforce General Hospital, Urology Department, Athens, Greece.
Andreas Skolarikos
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 2nd University Department of Urology, Sismanoglio Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Objectives: Ureteroscopy is one of the commonest procedures performed to manage urolithiasis. Flexible ureteroscopy has been traditionally based on reusable, fiber-optic ureteroscopes. Technology advancements permitted the development of single-use scopes with digital image. The aim of this study is to compare efficacy and safety between a reusable, fiberoptic ureteroscope with a single-use, digital scope.
Patients and methods: We collected data based on chart review from a prospectively collected database on a tertiary, high-volume hospital in Greece. Baseline, perioperative and postoperative data were gathered and analyzed. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test was used to compare qualitative data and unpaired t-test for continuous data, with a statistical significance set at a = 0.05.
Results: 40 patients underwent flexible ureteroscopy with a single- use digital scope, while 37 with the reusable scope. The two groups were matched regarding baseline characteristics and stone-related parameters. After data analysis, a shorter operative time in favor of single-use flexible ureteroscope was detected (45 vs 65 min, p = 0.001), while safety was also in favor of this type of scope with a significantly higher immediate stonefree rate (70% vs 43%, p = 0.005). Overall complications did not differ between the two groups, although a lower sepsis rate was detected in patients treated with single-use scope.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that single-use, digital ureteroscopes are a viable alternative for flexible ureteroscopy and management of urolithiasis, especially in centers with deficient facilities for sterilization and ensured funds for more expensive reusable scopes.

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How to Cite

Mourmouris, P., Tzelves, L., Raptidis, G., Berdempes, M., Markopoulos, T., Dellis, G., Siafakas, I., & Skolarikos, A. (2021). Comparison of a single-use, digital flexible ureteroscope with a reusable, fiberoptic ureteroscope for management of patients with urolithiasis. Archivio Italiano Di Urologia E Andrologia, 93(3), 326–329. https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2021.3.326

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