Introduction and Objectives
Introduction of digital endoscopes provided a new standard for image quality in endourology. Our study aimed to analyze the performances of digital ureteroscopy, performed for the first time in Romania.
Material and Methods
We evaluated 47 digital semirigid ureteroscopies for ureteral lithiasis performed in the Urological Department of “Saint John” Emergency Clinical Hospital: 31 as primary interventions (Group I) and 16 after previous JJ ureteral stenting (Group II). An Olympus Endoeye semirigid digital ureteroscope was used in all cases. Maneuverability and image quality were noted by the same urologist with 1 to 5 points. A similar analysis was performed during 47 ureteroscopies using a Storz conventional ureteroscope (Group III).
Results
The success rate was 83.9% (26/31 cases) in Group I, 100% (16/16 cases) in Group II and 97.9% (46/47 cases) in Group III. In 5 cases of Group II, the larger diameter of the digital ureteroscope (12F at the tip) impeded the calculus approach, imposing conventional semirigid ureteroscopy. In 1 case of Group III, pyelocaliceal migration of a large stone fragment imposed flexible ureteroscopic approach. The scores noted in the 3 groups were 4.48, 4.50 and 3.53 for visibility and 3.93, 4.38 and 4.57 for maneuverability.
Conclusions
The new digital ureteroscopes offer an image of superior quality by comparison to the conventional ones. Although the large caliber at the tip of the semirigid video-ureteroscopes may reduce their maneuverability and accessibility, the method proved to be safe and efficient.
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Identification
Copyright
© 2009 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
