Abstract:

Background: In our study, we aimed to compare the efficiency and reliability of using semirigid ureteroscopy (S-URS) and flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) in the treatment of patients with stones smaller than 2 cm in isolated renal pelvis. Materials and Methods: The data of 45 patients who underwent ureteroscopic stone treatment for isolated renal pelvis stones smaller than 2 cm were evaluated retrospectively. S-URS was routinely applied to all patients. If the stones can be accessed in the renal pelvis with S-URS, direct treatment with holmium laser was applied. If the stone was not accessible, F-URS was made. Groups were compared in terms of stone-free rates, operation times, hemoglobin reduction, and complications. Results: S-URS was performed in 24 (53.3%) patients and F-URS in 21 (46.7%) patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, degree of hydronephrosis, mean stone size and stone side. Mean operation time was 64.62 ± 9.34 minutes in the S-URS group and 96.43 ± 14.26 minutes in the F-URS group (p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of postoperative complications (p = 0.548). In the postoperative 1st day and 1st month follow-up, stone-free rates were 79.2% and 83.3% in the S-URS group, and 80.9% and 85.7% in the F-URS group, respectively (p = 0.768 and p = 0.574). Conclusions: We observed that the use of S-URS and F-URS were very successful and safe methods in kidney stones smaller than 2 cm. S-URS is a safe treatment method that can be applied if the stone in the renal pelvis can be reached without any problem, especially in selected cases.