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.
D'amico
F C
FC
Division of Urology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
Belis
J A
JA
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*