Surgical technique
A semirigid ureteroscopy was performed to cannulate the ureteric orifice
with a safety guidewire (0.035 inch, Microvasive; Boston Scientific
Corp., Natick, MA) and to
perform active dilatation. A 9.5F 45-cm-long UAS (Cook Medical, Inc.,
Bloomington, IN) was placed under fluoroscopic vision in the 114 cases
and while these operations were performed through the UAS, the next 461
cases were operated without using the UAS depending on the case
situation by being evaluating ureteral calibration. A FURS (7.5F;Karl
Storz Flex-X2, Tutlingen, Germany) was also used in all procedures. We
reached the lower pole easily after deflection of the FURS because we
used a 272-lm laser fiber (AMS_; Sureflex) in all cases. Upon reaching
the stone, a 272-lm laser fiber (AMS; Sureflex) was inserted, and the
stone was fragmented using a holmium:YAG laser (Stonelight_;
Cooltouch). Some fragmented stones were extracted with stone forceps in
case of using UAS. At the end of the procedure, a double-J stent was
inserted.