Initial Safety and Feasibility of Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation (SURE), A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Urolithiasis

Background There is a need to reliably render urolithiasis patients completely stone-free with minimal morbidity. We report on the initial safety and feasibility with steerable ureteroscopic renal evacuation (SURE) in a prospective study using basket extraction as a comparison. Materials and Methods A pilot randomized controlled study was conducted comparing SURE with basket extraction post-laser lithotripsy. SURE is performed using the CVAC™ Aspiration System, a steerable catheter (with introducer). The safety and feasibility of steering CVAC throughout the collecting system under fluoroscopy and aspirating stone fragments as it was designed to do was evaluated. Fluoroscopy time, change in hemoglobin, adverse events through 30 days, total and proportion of stone volume removed at 1 day, intra-operative stone removal rate and stone-free rate (SFR) at 30 days via computerized tomography (CT) were compared. Results 17 patients were treated (n=9 SURE, n=8 Basket). Baseline demographics and stone parameters were not significantly different between groups. One adverse event occurred in each group (self-limiting ileus for SURE and urinary tract infection for Basket). No mucosal injuries and no contrast extravasation were observed in either group. The CVAC catheter was steered throughout the collecting system and successfully aspirated fragments. There was no significant difference in fluoroscopy time, procedure time, change in hemoglobin, or stone removal rate between groups. SURE removed more and a greater proportion of stone volume at day 1 versus baskets (202mm vs 91 mm , p