Comparison of cost, reliability and effectiveness of digitaland conventional flexible ureterescope in the treatmentof kidney stone

Objective: Comparison of efficacy, safety and cost of surgical instruments that can be used during retrograde intrarenal surgery from minimally invasive methods in the treatment of renal stones Material and Methods : In our study, 75 patients were included. Of these, 47 patients were operated with digital flexible ureteroscope and 28 patients with conventional flexible ureteroscope. Preoperative demographic datas, stone sizes, localizations and previous surgeons were recorded. The amount of irrigation, the duration of fluoroscopy and the power of the laser device was recorded during the operation. These patients were reevaluated postoperatively at 1 day and 1 month after. Stone free rate, residual stones and complications were evaluated. Comparison was made between the two groups. Results: The average age of the patients in the digital flexible ureteroscope group was 42.15. The average stone dimensions were 18.89 mm and the lower pole were 44.7% of the stones. The mean age of the flexible ureteroscope group was 43.07. Average stone size was 17,64 mm and 46,4% of the stones were lower pole. Postoperatively, there was a significant difference in stone free rate. (p <0,05). No significant difference was found in other parameters. Conclusion: In literature, the number of studies comparing digital flexible ureteroscope and flexible ureteroscope is low. There was a significant difference in the duration of operations in these studies, but no such difference was found in our study. There was no significant difference in the stone free rates in the literature studies, but a significant difference was found in our study. Keywords: Digital, Flexible, Ureteroskop, Stone free, RIRS