Objectives To compare the clinical performance and surgical outcomes of the new digital single use flexible ureteroscope
(
WiScope®) with a reusable digital flexible ureteroscope.
Patient and methods Our prospective study includes patients with renal stones less than 2 cm who underwent retrograde
flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy. Patients were randomized into two groups: group A included patients who underwent
laser lithotripsy using WiScope
® Single use digital flexible ureteroscope and group B included patients who underwent
laser lithotripsy using reusable flexible ureteroscope. Image quality, deflection, ease of insertion, maneuverability, and
overall performance were assessed using either a visual analog or Likert scale. Operative outcomes and complications were
collected and analyzed in both groups.
Results A total of 242 patients were included in our study. There were 121 patients in the WiScope
® group and 121 patients
in reusable ureteroscope group. The WiScope
® had higher maneuverability (9.3 ± 0.7 vs. 7.2 ± 0.8, P < 0.001) and less
limb fatigue but had lower image quality when compared to reusable digital flexible ureteroscope (7.6 ± 0.9 vs. 9.2 ± 0.6,
P < 0.001). There were no differences in operative time, complication rates and rates of relook ureteroscopy.
Conclusions The WiScope
® single use flexible ureteroscope has comparable outcomes to the reusable flexible ureteroscope
with regard to maneuverability, limb fatigue, and deflection. However, it has a lower image quality.