Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the indications for, and the effects of, the management of renal caliceal calculi with deflectable tip rigid ureteroscopy.
Patients and Methods:
We designed a new deflectable tip rigid ureteroscope, and 175 patients with renal caliceal calculi received deflectable tip rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy with a holmium laser.
Results:
From December 2003 to December 2007, the procedure was successfully performed in all patients with a mean operative time of 28 minutes (range 19–45 min). The mean size of renal caliceal stones was 1.3 cm (range 0.8–2.4 cm). Seventeen patients had concurrent proximal ureteral calculi. The mean lithotripsy time was 11 minutes (range 5–22 min), and the mean discharge time was 3 days after operation. The overall stone-free rate at the 1-month follow-up was 83%.
Conclusion:
Ureteroscopic lithotripsy with the novel deflectable tip rigid ureteroscope is a safe procedure and combines the advantages of rigid and flexible ureteroscopy, especially for renal caliceal calculi of relatively small size.
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