Vacuum-assisted dedusting lithotripsy: a retrospective comparative study in high-risk patients with positive preoperative urine cultures.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of vacuum-assisted dedusting lithotripsy (VADL), employing a flexible vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath (FV-UAS), with traditional flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (fURL) for upper urinary tract stones in patients with positive urine cultures.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 421 patients treated with fURL between January 2022 and August 2024. Patients were divided into a traditional fURL group and a VADL group.