AUA 2018: Comparison of Flexible Ureterorenoscope Quality of Vision: An In Vitro Study
For this comparison, the Lithovue, OlympusV, Olympus V2, Storz FlexXC (White Light and ClaraChroma mode), Wolf Cobra Vision, Olympus P6, and Storx Flex X2 flexible ureteroscopes were evaluated. Two standardized grids and three stones (of different composition) were used to evaluate contrast and image definition in four different scenarios. To evaluate the image quality, the videos from the fURS were shown to 51 urologists and 52 non-urologists and a survey was given, with 1 being very bad to 5 being very good.
After the survey was conducted, Dr. and his team found that digital scopes were rated better than fiber optic scopes. The scope that produced the best image quality was the Flex XX (White Light and ClaraChroma), producing a p-value of <0.0001 when statistically analyzed against the rest of the fURS. Other differences found include the Olympus V producing a better image quality than the Lithovue, the Olympus V and V2 having better image quality during simulated bleeding, and the Olympus P6 and Storz X2 having the lowest quality of vision.
Dr. Talso concluded that although each fURS has their own pros and cons, digital scopes image quality is superior to fiber optic scopes. They also found that in regards to image quality, the Storz digital scope FlexXC White Light and ClaraChroma model had the best image quality when compared to the rest of the fURS in their study. Future directions he and his team propose is to compare the differences in single use ureteroscopes.
Presented By: Michele Talso
Written by: Cyrus Lin, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine, at the 2018 AUA Annual Meeting - May 18 - 21, 2018 – San Francisco, CA USA