LUGPA 2025 CME Enduring Program: Operationalizing the Science -Translating New Concepts into Clinical Practice-2025 CME Program Part 4

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This video transcript presents a professional discussion styled as a courtroom debate on two advanced kidney stone removal techniques: the disposable CVAC flexible ureteroscope and mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mini-PCNL). Dr. David Ellis opens, connecting historical Philadelphia legal roots and Benjamin Franklin's invention to urologic innovation. Dr. Matt Love advocates for the CVAC system, highlighting its all-in-one functionality, high stone clearance rates (up to 97%), scalability in smaller hospitals, and favorable healthcare economics with lower retreatment and readmission rates. Dr. Ellis counters by emphasizing the evolution and advantages of mini-PCNL, including smaller tissue trauma, high stone-free rates (>90%), minimal complications, tubeless techniques, outpatient feasibility, and established coding/reimbursement. He argues mini-PCNL offers superior optics, better access to difficult anatomy, and cost-effectiveness. Both acknowledge rare but serious complications exist in either approach. The panel underscores that choice depends on patient, surgeon skill, and facility, with no definitive winner. Audience engagement shows adoption of both methods. The session ends with appreciation for evolving stone treatment technologies.

Keywords

kidney stone removal

CVAC flexible ureteroscope

mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy

stone clearance rates

urologic innovation

surgical techniques comparison