INTROODUCTION: Flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) is increasingly used in the treatment of renal stones. However wide variations exist in technique, use and indications. To better inform our knowledge about the contemporary state of fURS for treating renal stones, we conducted a survey of endourologists worldwide.
METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire assessing fURS treatment of renal stones consisting of 36 items was sent to members of the Endourology Society in October 2014. Responses were collected through the SurveyMonkey system over a three-month period.
RESULTS: Questionnaires were answered by 414 surgeons from 44 countries (response rate 20.7%). U.S. surgeons accounted for 34.4% of all respondents. fURS was routinely performed in 80.0% of institutions, with 40.0% of surgeons performing >100 cases/year. Respondents considered fURS to be first-line therapy for patients with renal stones 2cm. To enhance stone-free rates, respondents frequently employ basket displacement, use ureteral access sheaths, high-power lasers, and dusting techniques.
CONCLUSIONS: The overwhelming majority of endourologists surveyed consider fURS as a first-line treatment modality for renal stones, especially those < 2cm. Use of ureteral access sheaths, high power holmium lasers and dusting technique have become popular among practitioners. When defining stone-free status after fURS, the majority of endourologists used a zero-fragment or residual fragment (RF)
J Endourol. 2015 Jul 8. [Epub ahead of print]
Dauw CA1, Simeon L2, Alruwaily AF3, Sanguedolce F4, Hollingsworth JM5, Roberts WW6, Faerber GJ7, Wolf JS Jr8, Ghani KR9.
1 University of Michigan, Urology , 1500 East Medical Center Drive , Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States , 48109
2 University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
3 University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
4 Fundació Puigvert, Department of Urology , C/Cartagena 340-350 , Barcelona, Spain , 08025
5 University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
6 University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
7 University of Michigan, Urology , 1500 E Medical Center Drive , Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States , 48109
8 University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
9 University of Michigan, Urology, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States