Single-use flexible ureteropyeloscopy: a systematic review

u Data assessing the effectiveness of single-use flexible ureteropyeloscopy (FURS) are limited. This study evaluates and compares single-use FURS with conventional reusable FURS. A systematic search using electronic databases (Pubmed and Embase) was performed for studies evaluating single-use FURS in the setting of urinary tract stone disease. Outcome measures included a comparative evaluation of their mechanical, optical and clinical outcomes. Eleven studies on 466 patients met inclusion criteria. In vitro comparative data were available on three single-use flexible ureteropyeloscopes (LithoVue (TM), Polyscope (TM) and SemiFlex (TM)) and clinical data were available on two (LithoVue (TM) and Polyscope (TM)). The overall stone-free rate and complication rate associated with single-use FURS was 87 +/- 15% and 9.3 +/- 9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in procedure duration, stone size, stone clearance and complication rates when single-use FURS and reusable FURS were compared (duration: 73 +/- 27 versus 74 +/- 13 min, p = 0.99; stone size: 1.36 +/- 0.2 versus 1.34 +/- 0.18 cm, p = 0.93; stone-free rate: 77.8 +/- 18 versus 68.5 +/- 33%, p = 0.76; complication rate 15.3 +/- 10.6 versus 15 +/- 1.6%, p = 0.3). Single-use FURS demonstrates comparable efficacy with reusable FURS in treating renal calculi. Further studies on clinical efficacy and cost are needed to determine whether single-use FURS will reliably replace its reusable counterpart.