ArticleBJU international2026
Flexible and navigable suction access sheaths: what size stone particles can be cleared?
Article in BJU international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Paradigm shifts in fluid management using suction irrigation pressure autoregulating systems in modern flexible ureteroscopy with flexible and navigable suction access sheath: an evidence-based narrative from EAU Endourology.Current opinion in urology · 2026Review
- Fiber-to-stone distance and fragment size with holmium laser lithotripsy.Urolithiasis · 2026Article
- Benchtop comparison of seven ureteroscopes: evaluating physical properties and deflection with flexible and navigable suction access sheaths.BJU international · 2026Article
- Efficacy and safety of flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath combined with flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy versus flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy alone for infected upper urinary tract stones: a retrospective cohort study.World journal of urology · 2026Article
- How do we choose the optimal length of flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheaths (FANS): an EAU endourology and AUSET prospective multicenter analysis.World journal of urology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo perform benchtop experiments on flexible and navigable suction (FANS) ureteric access sheaths (UASs) to determine the clearance capabilities for various stone sizes when paired with different-sized ureteroscopes.
methodsQuartz stones were used as a surrogate for renal stones. Stone samples were created to simulate the range of particle sizes produced by 'dusting' a 1-cm calcium oxalate monohydrate stone. The stone mixture was introduced into an open vial at a 30° angle in aliquots every 3 min over the course of 30 min, mimicking their gradual production by lasertripsy. This benchtop model focused on the effects of geometry (between FANS access sheath and ureteroscope) and suction, excluding complex fluid flow. An 11/13-F ClearPetra® FANS UAS with an indwelling ureteroscope was free to move in the vial and targeted visible stones. The vial was intermittently filled to 40 mL with water and emptied using 200-mmHg suction. The experiment had two arms: (1) a permanently indwelling ureteroscope in the FANS UAS to mimic continuous lasering with aspiration and (2) intermittent withdrawal of the ureteroscope to mimic pausing lasering to clear larger fragments through the empty FANS sheath lumen. Three ureteroscope sizes were used: 9.5-F (Lithovue™), 7.5 F (PUSEN) and 6.3 F (Hugemed). The experiment was performed four times for each ureteroscope. [Correction added on 4 July 2025, after first online publication: In the preceding sentence, "three" has been corrected to "four" in this version.]
resultsWith a permanently indwelling 9.5-F ureteroscope, the FANS UAS cleared 64% of the overall stone mass but became blocked after an average of 21 min. Intermittent withdrawal of the ureteroscope cleared all stones. With indwelling 7.5-F and 6.3-F ureteroscopes, the FANS UAS did not become blocked and completely cleared stones of up to 500 μm and 2 mm, respectively.
conclusionsWithout withdrawing the ureteroscope (potentially allowing continuous lasertripsy), it is possible to continuously aspirate small fragments alongside a 7.5-F and a 6.3-F ureteroscope in an 11/13-F FANS UAS. Intermittent withdrawal of a ureteroscope from the FANS UAS allows complete stone clearance.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.