[Technical innovations in endourological stone therapy]

Urologe A. 2008 May;47(5):587-90. doi: 10.1007/s00120-008-1735-0.
[Article in German]

Abstract

Endoscopic stone management is a field of consistent technical innovation. For ureterorenoscopy, flexible scopes capable of 270 degrees deflection have allowed access to the complete urinary tract, including the lower-pole renal calculi. To counter the flaw of high repair costs, new-generation flexible ureterorenoscopes feature significantly greater durability and a less frequent need for repair. The development and improvement of auxiliary instruments such as access sheaths has facilitated the procedures, reduced complications, and improved the stone-free rates. A similar trend is seen for percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy (PCNL). Development is directed at miniaturised instruments such as the mini-PCNL. Especially in combination with a tubeless procedure in which a routine nephrostomy after PCNL is omitted and the nephrostomy tract is closed using hemostyptic sealant, similar success rates are achieved, with fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design / trends
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopes / trends*
  • Kidney Calculi / surgery*
  • Miniaturization / instrumentation
  • Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / instrumentation*
  • Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / trends
  • Ureteral Calculi / surgery*