Impact of case volume per year on flexible Ureteroscopy practice: an internet based survey

Abstract

Abstract Background To report current worldwide variation in techniques and clinical practice of flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) among endourologists of different case volumes per year. Methods Two invitations to complete an internet survey were emailed to Endourological Society members. Some of survey questions asked about indications of using FURS for renal and upper ureteral stones. Others were concerned with clinical practice of FURS (such as preoperative stenting, use of ureteral access sheath (UAS) and safety guidewire, technique of Laser lithotripsy and fragment retrieval, and post-FURS stenting. Responders were distributed into two groups; high-volume (> 100 cases/year) and low-volume surgeons ( 20 mm was used by 61% of high-volume surgeons compared with 28.6% for low-volume (P 20 mm. Low-volume surgeons prefer to use semi-rigid URS for treatment of upper ureteral stones, to apply Laser stone dusting and maintain ureteral stents for longer periods.

Keywords

• Flexible ureteroscopy
• Survey
• Stones
• Ureteral access sheath
• Flexible URS