Abstract
Aim : To evaluate the possible impact of ureteral access sheath (UAS) usage on the infectious complications following flexible ureteroscopy (fURS)
Patients and methods :
A total of 93 cases with solitary kidney stones (<15 mm) underwent fURS. To evaluate the possible effect of UAS use on the infectious complications after the procedures, cases were divided into two groups based on the use of UAS as; Group 1 (n: 51) cases treated with UAS and Group 2 (n: 42) cases treated without UAS during fURS. Following the stone management, treatment parameters and follow-up data were evaluated regarding the success rates, complications with an emphasis on infective onesandthe need for urgent admission rates were comparatively evaluated in both groups.
Results:
While the mean age of the cases was 48,2 years, mean stone size was 11,89 mm. The mean surgery time was 56.03 ± 13.17 minutes and the overall stone free rate(SFR) was 88.2%. Mean age value, body mass index, and mean degree of hydronephrosis did not significantly differ in both groups. Similarly, mean stone size, stone number and stone density were similar in both groups (p=0.79, p=0.43, and p:0.99, respectively).Although the operative time was shorter in cases operated with UAS, as an advantage,infectivecomplications were found to be significantly higher in these cases (p=0.021). However, peroperative complications were found to be higher in cases operated without an access sheath during fURS.
Conclusions :
Our results clearly demonstrated that although the use of UAS may shorten the operative time as an advantage, this application may not have a meaningful effect on the incidence of infective complications after flexible ureteroscopic stone management.