Treatment of ureteral calculi with an 8.3F disposable shaft rigid ureteroscope.
Seventy-one adult patients underwent ureteroscopy for treatment of ureteral calculi using the disposable shaft semirigid mini-ureteroscope. The ureteroscope has an 8.3F outer diameter with a fiber optic core that allows some flexibility of the shaft.  It has a 4.0F working channel that allows simultaneous use of 3F instruments and irrigation. Twenty-three patients had upper ureteral calculi and 48 patients had lower ureteral calculi.  Thirty-six patients did not require ureteral dilation and the remainder had minimal dilation to 10-12F. Fifty-one patients underwent laser lithotripsy, 14 patients underwent basket extraction, and six patients had both.  Five patients required use of a second flexible ureteroscope.  Seventy-seven percent of the patients went home the day of the procedure, 16% stayed one night in the hospital, and the remaining 7% had longer hospital stays.  No major complications or infections were noted.  Only 11% of the patients required IV or IM narcotics for pain management post-operatively.  The stone-free results at 1 month were 96% for lower ureteral calculi and 91% 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/steerability, and improved optics make it useful for treating ureteral calculi in the lower ureter in men and the entire ureter in women.
Division of Urology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
F C
FC
D'amico
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JA
Belis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055100:Optical Fibers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000628:therapy*