"Stand-up" urologic endoscopy.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To report the advantages of performing diagnostic and therapeutic urologic endoscopic procedures with the urologic surgeon in the standing-up position. METHODS: Our 25-year institutional experience with more than 10,000 cases of transurethral ablation of the prostate and other urologic endoscopic procedures, performed by the urologist in the standing-up position, was examined. A questionnaire of all 55 of our former urology residents was carried out to determine current practice trends. RESULTS: We have noted no drawbacks from performing transurethral surgery in the standing-up position. Ninety-two percent of the respondents believe that the standing-up position was more comfortable for endoscopic surgery than the sitting-down position. CONCLUSIONS: the standing-up technique of transurethral surgery minimizes positional stresses on the urologist's cervical and thoracic spine while optimizing endoscopic visualization and maneuverability. We recommend it in preference to the conventional sitting-down technique.