@article{3106390,
    title = "Worldwide survey of flexible ureteroscopy practice: a survey from european association of urology sections of young academic urologists and uro-technology groups",
    author = "Pietropaolo, A. and Bres-Niewada, E. and Skolarikos, A. and Liatsikos, E. and Kallidonis, P. and Aboumarzouk, O. and Tailly, T. and Proietti, S. and Traxer, O. and Giusti, G. and Rukin, N. and Özsoy, M. and Talso, M. and Emre, S.T. and Emiliani, E. and Atis, G. and Somani, B.K.",
    journal = "Central European Journal of Urology",
    year = "2019",
    volume = "72",
    number = "4",
    pages = "393-397",
    publisher = "Polish Urological Association",
    doi = "10.5173/ceju.2019.0041",
    abstract = "Introduction To understand the current practice of flexible ureteroscopy (fURS), we conducted a worldwide survey among urologists with a special interest in endourology. Material and methods A 42-question survey was designed after an initial consultation with European Association of Urology young academic urologists (YAU) and uro-technology (ESUT) groups. This was distributed via the SurveyMonkey® platform and an ESUT meeting to cover practice patterns and techniques in regard to ureteroscopy usage worldwide. Results A total of 114 completed responses were obtained. A safety guidewire was reportedly used by 84.5% of endourologists, an access sheath was always or almost always used by 71% and a reusable laser fibre was used by two-thirds of respondents. While a combination of dusting and fragmentation was used by 47% as a preferred mode of intra-renal stone treatment, some used dusting (43%) or fragmentation with basketing (10%). Disposable scopes were only used by 40% and three quarters of them used it for challenging cases only. Antibiotic prophylaxis was limited to a single peri-operative dose by two-thirds (67%) of respondents. The procedural time was limited to between 1–2 hours by two-thirds (70%) of respondents and very rarely (7.4%) it exceeded 2 hours. The irrigation method varied between manual pump (46%), mechanical irrigation (22%) or gravity irrigation (27%). Conclusions Our survey shows a wide variation in the available endourological armamentarium and surgical practice amongst urologists. However, there seems to be a broad agreement in the use of peri-operative antibiotics, access sheath usage, method of stone treatment and the use of post-operative stent. © 2019, Polish Urological Association. All rights reserved."
}