title: Flexible Ureteroscopy Can Be More Efficacious in the Treatment of Proximal Ureteral Stones in Select Patients.
abstract: Purpose. We aimed to compare and evaluate the outcomes and complications of two endoscopic treatment procedures, semirigid ureteroscopy (SR-URS) and flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS), in the treatment of proximal ureteral stones (PUS). Methods. SR-URS (group 1) was done on 68 patients whereas 64 patients underwent F-URS (group 2) for the treatment of PUS. Success rate was defined as the absence of stone fragments or presence of asymptomatic insignificant residual fragments < 2 mm. Outcomes and complications were recorded. Results. The differences were statistically not significant in age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and stone characteristics between groups. Mean ureteral stone size was 9.1 ± 0.4 mm and 8.9 ± 0.5 mm for groups 1 and 2. Mean operative time was 34.1 ± 1.5 min and 49.4 ± 2.3 min for groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.001). SFRs were 76.5% and 87.5% for groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.078). Two major complications (ureteral avulsion and ureteral rupture) occurred in group 1. Conclusion. F-URS is safer and less invasive than SR-URS in patients with PUS. There is no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of either technique. Nonetheless we recommend F-URS in the management of PUS as a first-line treatment option in select cases of proximal ureteral calculi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Memorial Şişli Hospital, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Konak Hospital, Izmit, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarıbacak
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Memorial Şişli Hospital, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Oguz
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ozkanli
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Memorial Şişli Hospital, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Murad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Basar
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Memorial Şişli Hospital, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Memorial Şişli Hospital, Şişli, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mevlana Derya
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Balbay