Application of tip-bendable ureteral access sheath in flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy: an initial experience of 224 cases

Introduction During the last decades, the advent of flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy has revolutionized the management of upper urinary tract stones.

We designed a patented tip-bendable ureteral access sheath to facilitate stone clearance.

Our current study reported our initial experience of 224 cases.

Materials and methods The study is a descriptive, retrospective analysis.

The initial 224 cases, operated consecutively by one surgeon during 16 months, were reviewed.

The novel tip-bendable ureteral access sheath was applied in the procedure.

Demographics, laboratory tests, and peri- and postoperative findings (operation duration, stone-free rate (SFR), utilization of flexible instruments and complications) were analyzed.

Resutls The median age of the patients was 56 years and the mean stones size was 2.3 ± 1.3 cm.

There were 63 cases of upper ureteral stone, 93cases of renal stone and 68 cases of ureteral-renal stones.

The mean operative time was 69.2 ± 65.2 min.

The immediate stone-free rate was 76.8% and the 1 month post-operative stone-free rate was 97.3%.

Most cases(95.5%)were success in single session.

Two patient experienced post-operative fever.

There was no unplanned readmission.

The frequency of post-operative complications was estimated at 0.89% (Clavien I).

Conclusion Flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy with tip-bendable ureteral access sheath is a safe and effective procedure, which can achieve excellent stone clearance.