TECHNICAL TIP - USE OF OPEN-ENDED GUIDEWIRE TO FACILITATE LASER LITHOTRIPSY DURING FLEXIBLE URETEROSCOPY

You have just passed your flexible ureteroscope to the level of the up per-ureteral calculus, The stone is in view, but as you advance the la ser fiber, it fails to exit the ureteroscope. All measures to advance the fiber prove futile, Sound familiar? We have found this to be an al l too common and frustrating situation with the use of the flexible ur eteroscope during laser lithotripsy. Our review of the literature reve als that this subject has not been adequately addressed, We have been successful with the aid of an open-ended 0.035-inch guidewire that adm its the 320-mu m laser fiber.