To develop a standardised tool to evaluate flexible ureterorenoscopes (fURS).
A three-stage consensus building approach based on the modified Delphi technique was performed under guidance of a steering group. First, scope- and user-related parameters used to evaluate fURS were identified through a systematic scoping review. Then, the main categories and subcategories were defined, and the expert panel was selected. Finally, a two-step modified Delphi consensus project was conducted to firstly obtain consensus on the relevance and exact definition of each (sub)category necessary to evaluate fURS, and secondly on the evaluation method (setting, used tools and unit of outcome) of those (sub)categories. Consensus was reached at a predefined threshold of 80% high agreement.
The panel consisted of 30 experts in the field of endourology. The first step of the modified Delphi consensus project consisted of two questionnaires with a response rate of 97% (n = 29) for both. Consensus was reached for the relevance and definition of six main categories and 12 subcategories. The second step consisted of three questionnaires (response rate of 90%, 97% and 100%, respectively). Consensus was reached on the method of measurement for all (sub)categories.
This modified Delphi consensus project reached consensus on a standardised grading tool for the evaluation of fURS - The Uniform grading tooL for flexIble ureterorenoscoPes (TULIP) tool. This is a first step in creating uniformity in this field of research to facilitate future comparison of outcomes of the functionality and handling of fURS.
BJU international. 2022 Oct 08 [Epub ahead of print]
Michaël M E L Henderickx, Nora Hendriks, Joyce Baard, Oliver J Wiseman, Kymora B Scotland, Bhaskar K Somani, Tarik E Şener, Esteban Emiliani, Laurian B Dragos, Luca Villa, Michele Talso, Saeed Bin Hamri, Silvia Proietti, Steeve Doizi, Olivier Traxer, Ben H Chew, Brian H Eisner, Manoj Monga, Ryan S Hsi, Karen L Stern, David A Leavitt, Marcelino Rivera, Daniel A Wollin, Michael Borofsky, Noah E Canvasser, Johann P Ingimarsson, Marawan M El Tayeb, Naeem Bhojani, Nariman Gadzhiev, Thomas Tailly, Otas Durutovic, Udo Nagele, Andreas Skolarikos, Barbara M A Schout, Harrie P Beerlage, Rob C M Pelger, Guido M Kamphuis
Department of Urology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands., Department of Urology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK., Department of Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA., Department of Urology, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Trust, Southampton, UK., Department of Urology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey., Department of Urology, Fundacio Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain., Department of Urology, Università Vita - Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco - Ospedale Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Department of Urology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, Hopital Tenon, Paris, France., Department of Urology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada., Department of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA., Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA., Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA., Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA., Department of Urology, Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA., Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA., Department of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA., Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA., Department of Urology, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, CA, USA., Department of Urology, Maine Medical Center, South Portland, ME, USA., Department of Urology, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple, Temple, TX, USA., Department of Urology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada., Department of Urology, Endourology Academy, Istanbul, Turkey., Department of Urology, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium., Department of Urology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia., Department of Urology, General Hospital Hall I.T., Hall in Tirol, Austria., Department of Urology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece., Department of Urology, Alrijne Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands., Department of Urology, Leids UMC, University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.