The Application of Suctioning Flexible Ureteroscopy With Intelligent Pressure Control in Treating Upper Urinary Tract Calculi on Patients With a Solitary Kidney

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the usage of intelligently pressure-controlled flexible ureteroscopy (URS) in managing upper urinary tract calculi in patients with a solitary kidney.

Methods: Forty patients with a solitary kidney and upper urinary tract calculus were included in this study. All the patients underwent suctioning URS with intelligent control of renal pelvic pressure by connecting pressure-measuring suctioning ureteral access sheath to an irrigation and suctioning platform. Treatment outcome and perioperative data were collected.

Results: The mean operative time was 25.2 ± 14.5 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 4.7 ± 1.4 days. The stone-free rate at 4 weeks after surgery was 87.5%, and it was 92.5% at 12 weeks after surgery. Two patients (5%) experienced complications of fever postoperatively. There were no complications of elevated serum creatinine, severe bleeding, sepsis, stone street, ureteral mucosa stripping, and ureteral stenosis.

Conclusion: It is safe and efficient to use the intelligently pressure-controlled flexible URS in treating upper urinary tract calculi for patients with a solitary kidney with advantages of high lithotripsy efficacy and low complication rate.