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Urolithiasis 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Urology, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

The endoscopic treatment of urolithiasis has a high success rate and the complications decreased after the development of lithotripsy techniques. The aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro bactericidal effect of laser and pneumatic lithotripsy on urinary stones colonized with Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. A total of 40 natural calcium oxalate stones, which were obtained from the patients' urinary systems with rigid ureteroscopy were used in the study. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(11):e14535

Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine.

To assess the clinical effect of miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) and flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy (FURL) for the treatment of renal and proximal ureteral calculi of ≤2 cm.A retrospective analysis was carried out on clinical data of 106 patients with kidney or upper urethral calculi. Among these patients, 58 underwent the MPCNL, and 48 received FURL. Read More

Urology 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Cleveland Clinic, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland, OH USA.

Objective: To assess the intermediate- and long-term effect of high-grade ureteral injuries from ureteral access sheaths.

Methods: Patients undergoing ureteroscopy for upper tract calculi were prospectively enrolled at 2 sites from 2010 to 2015. A 12/14 French sheath was used and the ureter was inspected with a flexible ureteroscope during withdrawal of the sheath and recorded. Read More

Urolithiasis 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Urology, Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200111, China.

Forgotten ureteral stents (FUS) is a great threat to both patients and doctors. Applications on smartphones can significantly reduce the incidence of FUS. But existing applications do not have instant notification and consultation functions. Read More

J Endourol 2019 Mar 12. Epub 2019 Mar 12.

University of British Columbia, Urologic Sciences , Level 6 , 2775 Laurel st. , Level 6 - 2775 Laurel St , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada , V5Z 1M9.

Introduction: Current American Urological Association guidelines recommend ureteroscopy as primary management of distal ureteral stones and shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) as a secondary option. Utilization of SWL in the management of nephrolithiasis in North America has decreased. We hypothesized that SWL continues to be an effective option in the management of distal ureteral calculi and studied data from our center in patients who received SWL for distal ureteral stones. Read More

Curr Opin Urol 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.

Purpose Of Review: Renal transplant is needed for end-stage renal disease. Although treatment of donor stones may be needed pretransplant and increases the pool available for renal transplant, posttransplant stone disease may also need treatment to maintain the allograft function. A Cochrane style review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines to evaluate the outcomes of donor and posttransplant ureteroscopy (URS) for stone disease, including all English language articles between January 1996 and December 2018. Read More

Curr Opin Urol 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Urology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.

Purpose Of Review: Better understanding of sex differences affecting urolithiasis may help us offer tailored treatment strategies to our patients.

Recent Findings: The incidence of urolithiasis is increasing and the male-to-female ratio has decreased from 3 : 1 to 1.3 : 1 between 1970 and 2000. Read More

Prog Urol 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Service d'urologie, CHU Conception, AP-HM, 147, boulevard Baille, 13005 Marseille, France.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate, in a review of the literature, the impact of diagnostic ureteroscopy before total nephroureterectomy (NUT) on the risk of bladder recurrence.

Methods: We conducted a literature review in the Pubmed database in March 2018. Initial research identified 45 publications. Read More

Hinyokika Kiyo 2018 Dec;64(12):489-495

The Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba.

A 78-year-old man was referred to Tsukuba University Hospital for right hydronephrosis. He had undergone ureteroscopy and ureteral stenting in another hospital, but no tumor was revealed in renal pelvis and ureter. The urinary cytology was negative. Read More

Int Urol Nephrol 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Urology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Objective: To study the association between a stone's struvite content and clinical outcomes and to determine a clinically significant cutoff for defining struvite stones.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent ureteroscopy or PCNL at our institution between 2012 and 2017 and had any component of struvite in the stone analysis. Patients were divided into four groups based on percent struvite content: A (1-25%), B (26-50%), C (51-75%), and D (76-100%). Read More

Aktuelle Urol 2019 Apr 28;50(2):157-165. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Klinik für Urologie, Mannheim.

Urolithiasis is an urologist's daily business. This article provides an overview of the developments in the management of urinary stone disease since the 1970s. While conventional KUB X-rays and intravenous pyelography were standard imaging procedures in the past, computed tomography is the first choice today. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2019 Feb 26;55(3). Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Urology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University, 35180 Izmir, Turkey.

Remained or forgotten ureteral double-J stents may cause serious complications. Removing of an encrusted, forgotten stent can be challenging. We present our experience with heavily encrusted ureteral stents and discuss the endourologic treatment options as well as their effectivity. Read More

J Surg Educ 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Orange, California.

Objective: To identify differences and potential deficiencies in urology residency training programs in the United States as they are perceived by residents/recent graduates and program directors.

Materials And Methods: A 45-question and 38-question survey was sent to chief residents/recent graduates and program directors, respectively, at all 120 US urology programs regarding prior medical education, urologic training curricula, and perceived surgical proficiency, among other topics.

Results: Survey response rate was 58% and 52% for residents and program directors, respectively. Read More

J Hosp Infect 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Microbiology, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Objectives: Flexible endoscopes are difficult to decontaminate, and endoscope associated infections are increasing. This report describes an outbreak of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa identified following an increase in incidence of clinical infections associated with flexible ureteroscopy at a tertiary care centre in the UK.

Methods: Clinical, laboratory and central decontamination unit (CDU) records were reviewed to determine the extent of the problem, and links to the used endoscopes. Read More

Can J Urol 2019 Feb;26(1):9660-9663

Division of Urology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.

Introduction: To assess whether urologists are able to accurately estimate the cost of commonly used endourologic disposable devices.

Materials And Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was presented to resident and attending urologists in one academic healthcare system. Respondents estimated the cost of 15 disposable devices commonly used in ureteroscopy. Read More

J Endourol 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

6 Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Introduction: Renal papillary pits are commonly encountered during ureteroscopy. The mechanism by which such pits arise is unclear. One hypothesis is that pits represent sites where stones overgrowing Randall's plaque (RP) were dislodged. Read More

J Endourol 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Hospital das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Division of Urology , barata ribeiro street,490 room25 , São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil , 01308001 ;

Objective: to evaluate if reducing the dose of fluoroscopy to ¼ of standard dose during unilateral ureteroscopy for ureteral stone treatment would impact in a reduction of total radiation emitted and if this strategy would impact in operation time, stone free rate and complication rate.

Methods: from August 2016 to August 2017, patients over 18 years old submitted to ureteroscopy for ureteral stone between 5-20 mm were prospectively randomized for ¼ dose reduction or standard dose fluoroscopy. Patients with abnormal urinary anatomy such as horseshoe kidney, pelvic kidney or duplex system were excluded from the study. Read More

Case Rep Gastroenterol 2019 Jan-Apr;13(1):12-16. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The epidemiology of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has changed considerably in the last several decades. Previously a chronic disease characterized by frequent recurrences with a high rate of surgical interventions, it is now largely a self-limited disease that is medically managed. The role of acid suppression was widely recognized as being important in the pathogenesis of PUD in the 19th century, while it was not until the 1980s and 1990s that the importance of infection was identified. Read More

Urology 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Comparative Effectiveness Research; Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Objective: To determine the most cost-effective approach to the management of distal ureteral stones in children given the potential for recurrent renal colic during a trial of passage versus potential stent discomfort and complications of ureteroscopy.

Methods: We developed a decision tree to project costs and clinical outcomes associated with observation, medical explusive therapy (MET), and ureteroscopy for the management of an index patient with a 4mm distal ureteral stone. We determined which strategy would be least costly and offer the most pain-free days within 30 days of diagnosis. Read More

Curr Urol Rep 2019 Feb 21;20(3):15. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.

Purpose Of Review: Urolithiasis is a disease of prevalence across the world and up to a quarter of patients present with multiple stones. Most procedures carried out in this scenario are staged; however, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest bilateral simultaneous (BS) procedures are safe. We performed a systematic review to investigate and evaluate the evidence for these procedures. Read More

Urol Ann 2019 Jan-Mar;11(1):39-45

Department of Urology, Menoufia University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt.

Objectives: To report a technique for ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy (URSL) and retrograde placement of a double-J (DJ) stenting through the ureteroscope working channel without the use of a fluoroscope compared to the conventional technique.

Patients And Methods: Between June 2015 and December 2017, 170 patients selected for URSL for treatment of ureteral stones and DJ insertion was evaluated. Patients are divided into two groups according to the use of fluoroscopy. Read More

Indian J Urol 2019 Jan-Mar;35(1):78-80

Department of Intensive Care, Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Ureteroscopy (URS) is a commonly performed and a safe urological intervention. However, potentially serious infective complications are possible after URS. A young nondiabetic woman developed severe Gram-negative septicemia after ureteroscopy for a lower ureteric calculus. Read More

Int Braz J Urol 2019 Feb 20;45. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Urology, Health Sciences University, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

Purpose: Retained or forgotten ureteral stents (FUS) have a potential to cause significant morbidity as well as medico-legal issues and increased cost. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and usefulness of smartphone-based Ureteral Stent Tracker (UST) application and compare the results with basic appointment card system to prevent FUS, prospectively.

Materials And Methods: A total of 90 patients who underwent ureteroscopic stone treatment procedure with indwelling DJ stents were equally distributed into two groups. Read More

Urol J 2019 Jan 5. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Urology, Third Hospital of Hangzhou, No. 38 West Lake Road Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the treatment of pediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 45 patients with upper urinary stones treated using flexible ureteroscopy combined with holmium laser lithotripsy at our department between June 2015 and January 2017 were examined in this study.

Results: The operative success rate of treatment using holmium laser lithotripsy via flexible ureteroscopy was 97. Read More

World J Urol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Sorbonne Université, Service d'Urologie, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Tenon, 4 Rue de la Chine, 75020, Paris, France.

Purpose: To present attributes of currently available flexible ureteroscopes to define the best flexible ureteroscope for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treatment.

Materials And Methods: Scopus and Medline databases were searched for articles relating to performance of flexible ureteroscopes. A consensus for final inclusion of articles judged to be relevant for UTUC treatment was reached between the authors. Read More

Minerva Urol Nefrol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Urology, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Health Sciences University, Izmir, Turkey.

Backround: A staged ureteroscopic procedure is the generally preferred method in the treatment of bilateral ureteral stones due to the risk of bilateral injury. In this study we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bilateral same-session ureteroscopy (BS-URS) in terms of complications, operation time, serum creatinine, hospital stay and stone-free rates.

Methods: A total of 75 patients who underwent BS-URS and holmium laser lithotripsy were evaluated, retrospectively. Read More

Urologiia 2018 Oct(4):114-117

Omsk State Medical University of Minzdrav of Russia, Omsk, Russia.

The article presents the experience of successful surgical treatment of a patient with complete ureteral obliteration after transurethral endoscopic pyelolithotripsy in the left renal pelvis with lithoextraction and stenting. Two months later the patient developed stent obstruction and underwent repeat stenting and insertion of a left nephrostomy tube. After another 1. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019 30;10:20. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.

A 38-year-old female patient with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with canagliflozin underwent ureteral stent placement for obstructive renal calculi. Ten days following ureteroscopy and ureteral stenting, she developed fevers and blood cultures grew Candida glabrata (). The patient was successfully treated with an extended course of broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungal agents. Read More

Urolithiasis 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Urology, Kidney Stone Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital, 2-8-1 Minami-Ohtsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-8476, Japan.

We examined the renal pelvic urine culture (RPUC) and stone culture (SC) during ureteroscopy and evaluated their associations with postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). We prospectively collected data of 224 patients who underwent ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy from March 2015 to December 2017. We examined the bladder urine culture pre-operatively. Read More

World J Urol 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

Purpose: Stent omission after routine ureteroscopy (rtURS) is accepted by current guidelines and may result in decreased patient morbidity and treatment costs. In a value-based healthcare model, the added morbidity and cost of routine stent placement may be scrutinized. Furthermore, data are limited on urologist cost knowledge and it is effect on ureteral stent placement. Read More

World J Urol 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Service d'Urologie, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne Université, 4 rue de la Chine, 75020, Paris, France.

Purpose: During endourological procedures, the eye of the urologist is exposed to hazards such as contact with body fluids and irrigation solutions as well as laser injury, and X-ray radiation absorption. The resulting potential injuries and damages to the eye have not been summarily reviewed to date. The objective was to review the different risks of exposure to the eyes of urologists during endourological procedures. Read More

Curr Urol Rep 2019 Feb 7;20(3):13. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Urology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UK.

Purpose Of Review: While ureteroscopy (URS) is a common procedure for ureteric stones, this window between diagnosis and treatment leaves the possibility for a 'negative', 'stoneless' or 'diagnostic' URS. We perform a systematic review to look at the rate of 'negative ureteroscopy' and risk factors associated with it.

Recent Findings: From a total of 3599 articles and 68 abstracts, 4 studies (1336 patients) were selected. Read More

World J Urol 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Sorbonne Université, Service d'Urologie, Hôpital Tenon, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, 4 rue de la Chine, 75020, Paris, France.

Purpose: To compare the operating modes of the Holmium:YAG laser and Thulium fiber laser. Additionally, currently available literature on Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy is reviewed.

Materials And Methods: Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles relating to the operating modes of Holmium:YAG and Thulium fiber lasers, including systematic review of articles on Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy. Read More

J Endourol 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 02 6;2:CD012703. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 394, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.

Background: Ureteroscopy combined with laser stone fragmentation and basketing is a common approach for managing renal and ureteral stones. This procedure is associated with some degree of ureteral trauma. Ureteral trauma may lead to swelling, ureteral obstruction, and flank pain and may require subsequent interventions such as hospital admission or secondary ureteral stent placement. Read More

BMC Urol 2019 Jan 30;19(1):12. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, No. 83 East Zhongshan Road, Guiyang, 550002, Guizhou, China.

Background: The development of ureteral calculi after Yang-Monti ileal ureter reconstruction has not been reported. This study was performed to explore the safety and effectiveness of ureteroscopy combined with laser lithotripsy in the treatment of ipsilateral lower ureteral calculi and lower calyceal calculi after Yang-Monti ileal ureter reconstruction.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with ipsilateral distal ureteral calculi and ipsilateral lower calyceal calculi. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(4):e14265

Urology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Rationale: Pelvic lipomatosis (PL) is a benign disease characterized by overgrowth of adipose tissue in pelvic space. Hydronephrosis and ureterectasis are common complications caused by PL in urinary system. But PL accompanied with upper urinary tract calculi is rare. Read More

Cent European J Urol 2018 27;71(4):462-466. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Assiut University, Urology and Nephrology Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.

Introduction: Obstructive anuria can be managed by primary ureteroscopy (URS) or deferred URS after initial ureteral stenting. We want to compare the primary URS and deferred URS in the management of calculus anuria regarding the feasibility and clinical outcome.

Material And Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2014, 150 patients with anuria due to ureteral calculi were prospectively randomized according to the timing of ureteroscopic intervention into two groups; deferred URS group (69 patients who were treated initially by ureteral stenting) and primary URS group (81 patients who were treated by emergency URS). Read More

Cent European J Urol 2018 2;71(4):453-461. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Cambridge University Hospitals, Department of Urology, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Introduction: We assessed the clinical performance of a new digital single-use flexible ureteroscope (UscopePU3022).

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out across 11 centers (July-Oct. 2017). Read More

J Endourol Case Rep 2018 17;4(1):198-200. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Urology Department, Camposampiero Hospital, ULSS 6 "Euganea," Camposampiero, Italy.

Retrocaval ureter is a rare entity with a reported incidence of ∼1 in 1100 and a 2.8-fold male predominance. The course of the ureter could be classified, using an intravenous urography, as type 1 having S-shaped, fish-hook, or J-shaped retrocaval course or type 2 having sickle-shaped course. Read More

J Endourol Case Rep 2018 17;4(1):195-197. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Urinary stone disease in cross-fused renal ectopia is rare and the aberrant anatomy poses challenges to treatment options. The available literature on treatment modalities remains limited. In this study, we present a case of ureteral stone in a cross-fused renal ectopia managed through retrograde approach. Read More

Curr Opin Urol 2019 Mar;29(2):113-117

Department of Urology, University of Mainz, Brüderkrankenhaus Trier, Germany.

Purpose Of Review: In the recent past, there were numerous and promising technological developments in the field of endourology leading to tremendous changes in the management of urolithiasis. This review will try to weave ancient stone therapy with the very modern advent of flexible ureteroscopy and recent developments in robotic systems.

Recent Findings: In the broad field of flexible ureteroscopy for stone surgery, new disposable scopes have been developed and established. Read More

Urology 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Urology, George Washington University Medical School, (GWUH), Washington, DC.

Objective: To determine the percentage of emergently placed nephrostomy tubes (NT) that were subsequently deemed usable for definitive percutaneous nephrolithotomy or percutaneous antegrade ureteroscopy in patients presenting with nephrolithiasis.

Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective database review was completed to identify patients who underwent emergent NT placement and then subsequent percutaneous nephrolithotomy or percutaneous antegrade ureteroscopy. Demographic, operative, and postoperative data were collected. Read More

Aktuelle Urol 2019 02 17;50(1):e1. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Urology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg.

JAMA Netw Open 2018 Dec 7;1(8):e186248. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City.

Importance: The American Urological Association guidelines recommend 24 or fewer hours of antimicrobial prophylaxis for most urologic procedures. Continuing antimicrobial therapy beyond 24 hours may carry more risks than advantages.

Objectives: To assess guideline discordance of antimicrobial prophylaxis for common urologic endoscopic procedures, and to identify opportunities for improving antimicrobial prescribing through future stewardship interventions. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 2;2018:9253952. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Department of Urology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan.

Kidney stones are a major public health concern with continuously increasing worldwide prevalence. Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is the first line treatment choice for upper urinary tract calculi with ureteroscopy and has advantages of safety and noninvasiveness, but the treatment success rate of SWL is lower than that of other therapies. It is therefore important to identify predictive factors for SWL outcome and select a suitable treatment choice for patients with upper urinary tract calculi. Read More

Int Braz J Urol 2019 Jan-Feb;45(1):10-22

Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Purpose: To systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of retrograde flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) versus percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating intermediate-size renal stones (2-3cm).

Materials And Methods: PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and EMBASE were researched to identify relevant studies up to May 2018. Article selection was performed through the search strategy based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. Read More

J Endourol 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

1 Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

Objective: Kidney stone formers are at risk for opioid dependence. The aim of this study is to describe opiate exposure and determine predictors of prolonged opiate use among kidney stone formers after surgery.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review was performed among patients who underwent ureteroscopy for upper tract stone disease. Read More

Urologe A 2019 Jan;58(1):14-21

Klinik für Urologie und Kinderurologie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Deutschland.

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of ureteroscopic biopsies in the upper urinary tract is limited by technical difficulties during extraction and small sample size.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of different techniques and instruments on the histopathologic quality and diagnostic yield of extracted samples as well as the predictive value of clinical grading and staging on final pathologic stage at radical nephroureterectomy.

Materials And Methods: For this systematic review, we searched PubMed and Embase databases for original publications and meeting abstracts according to the PRISMA guidelines. Read More

Biomed Opt Express 2018 Sep 30;9(9):4552-4568. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Department of Physics and Optical Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.

The flashlamp-pumped, solid-state, pulsed, mid-infrared, holmium:YAG laser (λ = 2120 nm) has been the clinical gold standard laser for lithotripsy for over the past two decades. However, while the holmium laser is the dominant laser technology in ureteroscopy because it efficiently ablates all urinary stone types, this mature laser technology has several fundamental limitations. Alternative, mid-IR laser technologies, including a thulium fiber laser (λ = 1908 and 1940 nm), a thulium:YAG laser (λ = 2010 nm), and an erbium:YAG laser (λ = 2940 nm) have also been explored for lithotripsy. Read More