UROLOGICAL BASKETS

UROLOGICAL BASKETS

 

Abstract

With a new generation of flexible ureterorenoscopes, a new area in stone management is emerging. Limitation of vision with these new instruments is often caused by insufficient irrigation flow, especially when using instruments like stone baskets, resulting from partial obstruction of the working and irrigation channel with these instruments. Empirically, new available smaller stone baskets seem to dramatically improve irrigation and therefore vision in clinical use. The goal of this study was to show objective differences in basket diameters and flow rates in an in vitro setting.

Diameters and irrigation flows in flexible ureterorenoscopes depending on different sizes of stone baskets (Fr. 1.5–1.7–1.9–2.2–2.4–3.0) and different deflections were measured. The measured diameter of the baskets varied within the first 20 cm and the true measured size varied from the manufacturer’s specified size to a different extent. The new generation of 1.5 and 1.7 Fr. baskets improved irrigation flow, even compared to the smallest commonly used baskets, up to 68%. Interestingly, deflection did not influence irrigation flow. This study confirmed the subjective impression of inadequate description of relevant basket diameters as well as that of a significant improvement of irrigation flow with the newest generation of stone baskets with smaller diameters.

 

 

 

 Size does matter: 1.5 Fr. stone baskets almost double irrigation flow during flexible ureteroscopy compared to 1.9 Fr. stone baskets

 renoscopes, a new area in stone management is emerging. Limitation of vision with these new instruments is Flexible ureterorenoscopy. especially in stone disease,

 often caused by insufficient irrigation flow, especially is a widely used and emerging technique in endourol-

 from partial obstruction of the working and irrigation ble deflection of about 180° or single deflcction of

 The goal of this study was to show objective diflerenccs rorenoscopy is an cflicient treatment alternative to

 Diameters and irrigation flows in flexible urctcrorcno- PCNL with its higher morbidity.

 (FrM.5-117-1.9-2.2-2.4-3.0) and different deflections some major drawbacks of the procedure. Investigations in

 were measured. The measured diameter of the baskets scope deflection and also in irrigation have shown a limi-

 varied from the manufacturer's specified size to a stone baskets [I]. While using smaller baskets like 1.9 or

 baskets improved irrigation flow, even compared to the only minor compared to larger baskets like 3 Fr., the paras that of a significant improvement of irrigation flow To our knowledge, neither irrigation flow in newly

 Keywords Urinary lithiasis * Flexible ureteroseopes * In this contribution we compared the irrigation flow

 Endourology of new smaller 1.5 and 1.7 Fr. stone baskets to the com-

 - vitro setting in the straight, the 90° and the 180° defl-

 M. A. Kuczyk - K.-D. Sicvcrl ■ A. Stcn/I • A. C. Anastnsiadis rniKivI |noli N-Dcparımenı or Urology, University or Tuebingen, Circle measurements were performed withthe sheath