Practice and results of retrograde intra-renal surgery using the Uscope PU3022a single-use flexible ureteroscope and Holmium laser in the management of upper urinary tract stones: observation of a reference centre in Guadeloupe, France

• Published in: African Urology Vol. 3; no. 3; pp. 121 - 125
• Main Authors: Nedjim, S, Mate, K, Mahamat, MA, Hagguir, H, Adoumadji, K, Deleuze, C, Mollard, P, Stempfer, G, Vestris, PG, Sadreux, Y, Laguerre, M, Roux, V, Gourtaud, G, Senechal, C, Moataz, A, Dakir, M, Debbagh, A, Blanchet, P, Aboutaieb, R, Brureau, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Life Sciences; Medicine; URETEROSCOPE; Urinary system; Internal medicine; Surgery; Upper urinary tract; Urology
• ISSN: 2710-2750
• DOI: 10.36303/AUJ.0092

Background:With the advancement of technology, single-use flexible ureteroscopes (suf-URS) are beginning to occupy an important place in the management of lithiasis disease. In addition to the satisfactory outcome they offer, they have the advantage of bypassing the traditional problems posed by reusable flexible ureteroscopes (rf-URS). Recently, a 9.2 FR single-use flexible ureteroscope (Uscope PU3022a) was introduced to the market by PUSENTM. The purpose of this study was to report our practice and outcome with the Uscope PU3022a using a Holmium laser in the management of upper urinary tract stones.Methods:From January 2021 to June 2022, 109 patients meeting the criteria were included in the study. Patient characteristics, stone characteristics, procedure, outcome, and complications were studied.Results:The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 62 years. The sex ratio was in favour of men (64.2%). More than half of the patients had a history of calculus (52.3%). The mean size of the stone was 13 mm (4–28 mm). The mean density was 1 112 HU (300– 1 900 HU). The average procedure time was 70 minutes (30–130 minutes). In the majority of cases, the stone was solitary (n = 72; 66.1%). The location of the stone was caliceal in 51.4% of cases. A double JJ catheter was placed in 96 (88.1%) patients before the suf-URS. A ureteral access sheath (UAS) was used in 95.4% of cases. Perioperative difficulties were encountered in 16.5% of the procedures.Conclusion:In our series, retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using the Uscope PU3022a in the management of upper urinary tract stones gives a good stone-free rate at the first session. It can be used for stones larger than 20 mm. Further large randomised studies are needed to assess the use of this type of suf-URS. The stone-free rate was 73.4%. Postoperative complications were reported in 5.5% of patients.