Finlayson Ureteral Access System: Review of 32 Cases

Abstract

The Finlayson ureteral access system was used to facilitate passage of the 11.5F rigid ureteroscope in 31 patients (32 procedures). Patients ranged in age from 19 to 87 years. The indications were ureteral stones (19 patients), evaluation or treatment of radiolucent filling defects (9 patients), and retrieval of migrated ureteral stents (3 patients). The ureteroscope was passed to the level of the stone in 16 patients (84%); ureteral perforation occurred in 2 patients, and in 1 patient, the instrument could not be passed above the iliac vessels. All of the diagnostic procedures were successful, and all of the stents were retrieved (overall success rate of ureteroscope passage: 91 %). No other major complication occurred, and followup intravenous urograms showed no stricture formation. The Finlayson ureteral access system is capable of providing atraumatic access to all levels of the upper urinary tract and represents a suitable alternative to other dilating techniques.