@article{3031033,
    title = "Comparison of a single-use, digital flexible ureteroscope with a
reusable, fiberoptic ureteroscope for management of patients with
urolithiasis",
    author = "Mourmouris, Panagiotis and Tzelves, Lazaros and Raptidis, Grigorios and and Berdempes, Marinos and Markopoulos, Titos and Dellis, Grigorios and and Siafakas, Ioannis and Skolarikos, Andreas",
    journal = "ARCHIVIO ITALIANO DI UROLOGIA E ANDROLOGIA",
    year = "2021",
    volume = "93",
    number = "3",
    pages = "326-329",
    publisher = "PAGEPRESS PUBL",
    doi = "10.4081/aiua.2021.3.326",
    keywords = "Urolithiasis; Flexible ureteroscope; Kidney stone disease; Digital
ureteroscope; Single-use ureteroscope; Fiber-optic ureteroscope;
Reusable ureteroscope",
    abstract = "Objectives: Ureteroscopy is one of the com- monest procedures performed
to manage urolithiasis. Flexible ureteroscopy has been traditionally
based on reusable, fiber-optic ureteroscopes. Technology advancements
permitted the development of single-use scopes with digital image. The
aim of this study is to compare efficacy and safety between a reusable,
fiberoptic ureteroscope with a single-use, digital scope.
Patients and methods: We collected data based on chart review from a
prospectively collected database on a tertiary, high-volume hospital in
Greece. Baseline, perioperative and postoperative data were gathered and
analyzed. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test was used to compare
qualitative data and unpaired t-test for continuous data, with a
statistical significance set at a = 0.05.
Results: 40 patients underwent flexible ureteroscopy with a single-use
digital scope, while 37 with the reusable scope. The two groups were
matched regarding baseline characteristics and stone-related parameters.
After data analysis, a shorter operative time in favor of single-use
flexible ureteroscope was detected (45 vs 65 min, p = 0.001), while
safety was also in favor of this type of scope with a significantly
higher immediate stone-free rate (70% vs 43%, p = 0.005). Overall
complications did not differ between the two groups, although a lower
sepsis rate was detected in patients treated with single-use scope.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that single-use, digital
ureteroscopes are a viable alternative for flexible ureteroscopy and
management of urolithiasis, especially in centers with deficient
facilities for sterilization and ensured funds for more expensive
reusable scopes."
}