[Flexible ureteroscopy in upper XXXX ].

@entity1 @entity5 @entity5450 @entity23008 @entity2100
STUDY OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of active deflection flexible miniureterorenoscopes for diagnostic or therapeutic applications in the management of upper @entity5450 . MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors report a series of 111 consecutive @entity1 undergoing a total of 137 flexible ureteroscopies for upper urinary tract disease between November 1997 and April 2001. The procedures were performed for diagnostic purposes (54 cases: 39%) or therapeutic purposes (83 cases; 61%). A successful procedure was defined as achievement of the objective defined when establishing the indication for ureteroscopy. The mean age of the @entity1 was 51 +/- 15 years. The main diseases investigated or treated were stones (66%) and @entity5 (25%). RESULTS: The mean operating time was 42 +/- 22 min. The median length of postoperative hospital stay was 2 days (range: 0-27 days). 8% of @entity1 did not require any postoperative ureteric drainage. 78% of the flexible ureteroscopies performed were successful. Complications were observed in 8% of cases, mainly macroscopic haematuria, including 3 major complications in the form of ureteric perforation. Serious intraoperative equipment damage was observed in 4% of cases. CONCLUSION: Ureteroscopy with a flexible mini-ureteroscope is an effective, reproducible and minimally traumatic diagnostic and therapeutic technique for lesions situated above the iliac vessels. The use of various instruments, including the @entity23008 :Yag laser, should increase the range of possibilities of endoscopic techniques. The major limitation of active deflection flexible mini-ureterorenoscopes remains their @entity2100 .
