OBJECTIVES: Within the field of urology, the first single-use ureteroscope was introduced in 2011 and has expanded with multiple new scopes on the market. This study aimed to identify the single-use ureteroscope usage rate in the U.S. and the drivers and barriers of single-use adoption today.

METHODS: To evaluate the current single-use ureteroscope usage and adoption drivers, a total of 38 physicians were surveyed in the United States across different care settings including academic medical centers (n=11), community hospitals (n=21), and ambulatory surgery centers or outpatient clinics (n=6). Results were analyzed and the percent of single-use users was calculated, along with the top reasons for adoption drivers and barriers.

RESULTS: Of the 38 U.S. respondents, 68% indicated they currently use single-use ureteroscopes in their respective facility. Ambulatory surgery centers or outpatient clinics reported the highest proportion of respondents who currently utilize single-use ureteroscopes (73%), with academic medical centers reporting the second highest proportion (71%), and community hospitals reporting the lowest utilization (50%).

CONCLUSIONS: Single-use ureteroscopes are widely adopted endoscopes across different care settings in the U.S. today. The cost of utilizing single-use ureteroscopes was identified as both a driver and barrier of adoption. These findings signal the need for further assessment of the financial implications of single-use ureteroscopes across care settings and the evaluation of scopes as single-use endoscopes continue to evolve and improve.