PMID- 31466078
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20210304
LR  - 20210304
IS  - 1423-0399 (Electronic)
IS  - 0042-1138 (Linking)
VI  - 104
IP  - 5-6
DP  - 2020
TI  - Ex vivo Comparison of 2 Disposable versus a State-of-the-Art Reusable 
      Ureterorenoscope.
PG  - 437-444
LID - 10.1159/000502759 [doi]
AB  - INTRODUCTION: The success of upper urinary tract endoscopy on one hand and the 
      high cost of purchase and maintenance of the scopes on the other hand have driven 
      the development of disposable digital flexible ureterorenoscopy (fURS). MATERIALS 
      AND METHODS: We performed an ex vivo comparison of 2 disposable digital fURS from 
      different companies with a state-of-the-art reusable endoscope from another 
      well-established scope manufacturer. The scopes were tested comparing parameters 
      such as instrument handling, irrigation flow, image quality, and deflection. For 
      the disposable scopes, the latter 2 were evaluated both, before and after 
      vigorous stress testing. RESULTS: Expectedly, the most consistent finding among 
      the 3 instruments was the marked decrease on irrigation flow following insertion 
      of a working element, most notably a guidewire. Depth perception and ergonomic 
      handling were comparable in all 3 instruments. Poststress testing revealed a 
      significant loss of upward deflection in both disposable instruments, more so 
      when an auxiliary instrument is inserted into the working channel. However, this 
      did not appear to be the case in downward deflection. CONCLUSIONS: To our 
      knowledge, this is the first study that used a vigorous stress testing protocol 
      comparing disposable and reusable fURS. The newer generation disposable scope 
      fared better than the older one. Results are encouraging and indicate that 
      improvements are ongoing and progressing, bringing the quality of disposable 
      scopes to the level that we are used to from our reusable high performance scopes 
      while at the same time avoiding costly damage repairs. Continuous research and 
      evidence-based interpretation of results in the absence of commercial bias are 
      paramount to ensure this ongoing development.
CI  - (c) 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.
FAU - Bourdoumis, Andreas
AU  - Bourdoumis A
AD  - U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, United Kingdom.
AD  - Department of Urology, Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Northern Care Alliance, 
      Manchester, United Kingdom.
FAU - El Howairis, Mohammed El Fatih
AU  - El Howairis MEF
AD  - U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, United Kingdom.
AD  - Department of Urology, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
FAU - Stephen, Binu
AU  - Stephen B
AD  - Sobeh's Vascular and Medical Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
FAU - Buchholz, Noor
AU  - Buchholz N
AD  - U-merge Ltd. (Urology for Emerging Countries), London, United Kingdom, 
      noor.buchholz@gmail.com.
AD  - Department of Urology, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 
      noor.buchholz@gmail.com.
LA  - eng
PT  - Comparative Study
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20190829
PL  - Switzerland
TA  - Urol Int
JT  - Urologia internationalis
JID - 0417373
SB  - IM
MH  - *Disposable Equipment
MH  - Equipment Design
MH  - *Equipment Reuse
MH  - *Ureteroscopes
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - Deflection
OT  - Disposable
OT  - Flexible
OT  - Handling
OT  - Image quality
OT  - Irrigation
OT  - Stress test
OT  - Ureterorenoscopy
EDAT- 2019/08/30 06:00
MHDA- 2021/03/05 06:00
CRDT- 2019/08/30 06:00
PHST- 2019/03/29 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2019/08/12 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2019/08/30 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2021/03/05 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2019/08/30 06:00 [entrez]
AID - 000502759 [pii]
AID - 10.1159/000502759 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Urol Int. 2020;104(5-6):437-444. doi: 10.1159/000502759. Epub 2019 Aug 29.