@article{article_1079843, title={Comparison of Outcomes Between Disposable and Reusable Flexible Ureteroscopes in the Treatment of Lower Pole Renal Stones}, journal={Endoüroloji Bülteni}, volume={17}, pages={78–85}, year={2025}, DOI={10.54233/endourolbull-1079843}, author={Tunçekin, Adem and Tongal, Arda and Sağır, Süleyman and Aktaş, Yasin and Arslan, Erkan}, keywords={ureteroscopes, urolithiasis, kidney stone}, abstract={Objective: Kidney stone disease is a significant health problem that substantially affects individuals’ quality of life. Approximately 30% of kidney stones are located in the lower pole, which presents challenges in accessing these stones during retrograde intrarenal surgery. In the surgical treatment of lower pole kidney stones, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and success rates of single-use and reusable flexible ureterorenoscopes, and to determine the most optimal option based on these findings.
Material and Methods: This study included patients with lower pole kidney stones who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of ureterorenoscope used: single-use or reusable. The collected data were compared between the two groups.
Results: A total of 61 patients, including 34 men and 27 women, were included in the study. Thirty-four patients were evaluated in the single-use group, and 27 patients in the reusable group. The median stone size was 78.5 mm² (50.3–127.6) mm² in the reusable group and 125.3 mm² (56.5–201.1) mm² in the single-use group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics, Clavien-Dindo scores, or postoperative complications (p > 0.05). However, vomiting was observed significantly less frequently in the single-use group compared to the reusable group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Flexible ureterorenoscopes are commonly used in the surgical management of lower pole kidney stones. When choosing between single-use and reusable flexible ureterorenoscopes, factors such as cost and ease of use should be taken into consideration. To better compare the advantages of each type and obtain more reliable results, larger case series and prospective studies are needed.}, number={2}, publisher={Endourology Association}, organization={There are no financial conflicts of interest to disclose.}