WiScope® Single Use Digital Flexible Ureteroscope Versus Reusable Flexible Ureteroscope for Management of Renal Stones: a Prospective Randomized Study
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Objectives: To compare the clinical performance and surgical outcomes of the new digital single use flexible ureteroscope (WiScope) with a reusable digital flexible ureteroscope.
Patient And Methods: Our prospective study includes patients with renal stones less than 2 cm who underwent retrograde flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. Patients were randomized into two groups: group A included patients who underwent laser lithotripsy using WiScope Single use digital flexible ureteroscope and group B included patients who underwent laser lithotripsy using reusable flexible ureteroscope. Image quality, deflection, ease of insertion, maneuverability, and overall performance were assessed using either a visual analog or Likert scale. Operative outcomes and complications were collected and analyzed in both groups.
Results: A total of 242 patients were included in our study. There were 121 patients in the WiScope group and 121 patients in reusable ureteroscope group. The WiScope had higher maneuverability (9.3 ± 0.7 vs. 7.2 ± 0.8, P < 0.001) and less limb fatigue but had lower image quality when compared to reusable digital flexible ureteroscope (7.6 ± 0.9 vs. 9.2 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). There were no differences in operative time, complication rates and rates of relook ureteroscopy.
Conclusions: The WiScope single use flexible ureteroscope has comparable outcomes to the reusable flexible ureteroscope with regard to maneuverability, limb fatigue, and deflection. However, it has a lower image quality.
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