ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The Post-Ureteroscopic Lesion Scale (PULS) offers a simple grading system for the description of ureteral lesions after ureteroscopy. In this article, we present the results of a video-based multicenter evaluation of the inter-rater reliability of clinically important PULS grades 0-3. METHODS: Video sequences at the end of ureteroscopy (final passage) were recorded for 100 consecutive patients at a single institution and assessed by experienced urologists (n = 20) and senior residents (n = 17) at 19 international centers. The cohort included only patients with lesions grades 0-3 (with grades 2 and 3 subsumed as 2 + since distinction is defined by an extravasation of contrast medium in fluoroscopy). The gradings were evaluated for inter-rater reliability and in terms of simplicity, validity, comprehensibility, reproducibility, and usefulness. RESULTS: Overall, inter-rater reliability was high (Kendall's W = 0.69, p < 0.001) and was comparable between specialists (Kendall's W = 0.69, p < 0.001) and residents (Kendall's W = 0.71, p < 0.001). The matched ratings showed grade 0 in 43.0 % of patients and grades 1 or 2 + in 44.0 and 13.0 % of patients, respectively. Results of the questionnaires indicated a high degree of acceptance, with an overall rating of 1.76 (1.64-1.93 for different items, scale 1-6). CONCLUSIONS: Inter-rater reliability of the endoscopically assessable PULS was high among urologists with different levels of experience in different countries worldwide. The validated PULS system may be used for standardized reporting of ureteral lesions/injuries after ureteroscopy. In addition, PULS will enable more selective standardization of indications for postoperative DJ stenting based on the randomized controlled trials.
Subject(s)
Neoplasm Grading/methods , Ureteral Neoplasms/diagnosis , Ureteral Neoplasms/pathology , Ureteroscopy/methods , Humans , Observer Variation , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and Questionnaires , Videotape RecordingABSTRACT
So far extracorporal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is the treatment of choice for upper urinary tract stones. Since the introduction of new minimal-invasive endourological procedures, such as retrograde flexible uretero-renoscopy (fURS) and minimal-invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (Mini-Perc), alternative treatment modalities are available, which show enhanced stone-free rates and decreased treatment morbidity even in unfavorable stone localizations of the lower calix and calyceal diverticulum stones. In experienced hands modern endourological approaches are suitable as first-line treatment of upper urinary tract stones. Even in elderly patients and large stone burden the endourological techniques show acceptable results.
