Objective: Our aim is to evaluate different Ureteral access sheaths (UASs), which are available in the international market and their compatibility with different available flexible ureteroscopes (F-URSs) in order to help the urologist to choose the proper Ureteral access sheath for his endoscope before commencing the procedure.
Materials and Methods: A total of 21 Ureteral Access Sheaths (UASs) and 12 Flexible Ureteroscopes (F-URSs) were evaluated. Measurements were obtained in French (Fr) units considering different characteristics for each UAS and each F-URS. Insertion test without friction between F-URS and UAS considered as a successful test and was referred as (YES).
Results: All of UASs and F-URSs were successfully submitted to the insertion test. All F-URSs that were inserted into UASs without friction had an internal diameter of at least 12 Fr. Different UAS length didn't influence the test outcome.
Conclusion: This study was able to establish a correlation table between different UASs and different flexible ureteroscopes. Up to today the UAS with size of 12/14Fr is considered universal UAS that accept all F-URSs, which are available in the endourology field. Nevertheless, we are expecting a significant change with the new standard size 10/12Fr of UAS as well as the huge advances in minimizing the size of different endoscopes.
Written by:
Al-Qahtani SM, Letendre J, Natalin R, Saussez T, Thomas A, Traxer O. Are you the author?
Tenon Hospital, Pierre and Marie University, Urology, 4 Rue de la chine, Paris, France, 75020.
Reference: J Endourol. 2013 Oct 22. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1089/end.2013.0375
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24147776
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