New aid for manipulating radiolucent ureteral calculi

NEW AID FOR MANIPULATING URETERAL

RADIOLUCENT

CALCULI

MARK A. SILVERT,

M.D.

From the Department of Surgery, Section of Urology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona

The manipulation of ureteral calculi continues to be an interesting and occasionally frustrating urologic procedure. Radiolucent calculi are especially challenging since spot films and fluoroscopy are of minimal help. To check the position of the calculus radiologically, the stone basket must be removed and a cone tip catheter utilized for the ureterogram. Not only is this a waste of time, but often the stone basket cannot be reinserted.

Obviously, a device that would allow injection of contrast material through a helical wire or loop-type stone basket would aid in extracting both radiolucent and opaque ureteral calculi. An injection device* (Fig. 1A) has been designed that works well on both major types of stone baskets: the Davis loop catheter (Fig. lB), and the four-wire helical stone extractor (Fig. 1C). The injector device allows normal functioning of both baskets during the stone manipulation.

The injection device is useful also in the extraction of radiopaque calculi. Instead of initially obtaining a bulb ureterogram which may displace the calculus superiorly, the stone basket may be passed first. Then, if desired, a ureterogram may be obtained. However, the primary reason for use of the injector is to aid the extraction of radiolucent calculi. Richmond Urological Medical Group 2023 Vale Road, Suite 210 San Pablo, California 94806

basket. Presented at 55th Annual Meeting of Western AUA, Tucson, Arizona, March, 1979.

510

Section, *Vance

Products,

UROLOGY

Inc., Spencer,

Indiana.

I MAY 1980 / VOLUME XV. NUMBER5