THE 6.9 F SEMIRIGID URETEROSCOPE IN CLINICAL USE

The 6.9 F semirigid ureteroscope has a hybrid design that shares the rigid ureteroscope body with the fiberoptic imaging bundle of the flexible ureteroscopes. This allows more space for the inner channel, so that there are two working channels of 3.4 F and 2.3 F. This ureteroscope was used in 65 cases on 57 patients without dilatation of the intramural ureter. It was mainly used for the management of ureteral calculi (29 cases) and for visual diagnostic purposes (28 cases). The double-channel design proved extremely helpful in lithotripsy, while the ability to access the ureter without dilatation gave a consistently clearer picture for diagnostic purposes. Forty-two cases were done under local anesthesia with sedation. In 1 patient a minor perforation developed secondary to use of electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL). Postoperatively, 7 patients complained of colic, and in 5 patients a low grade fever developed, while 2 patients had both.