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.