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Objectives: To evaluate the general knowledge among primary health care (PHC) physicians regarding the management of common urological problems in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is an observational prospective study, where a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to practicing PHC physicians in the western region of Saudi Arabia on January 2017. The questionnaire consisted of 21-item questions, inquiring about demographics and general urological knowledge and skills. The management of common urological problems was assessed by case scenarios for specific urological condition, including urethral catheterization, definition and evaluation of hematuria, recognition of age-specific increase in prostatic specific antigen (PSA), and management of lower urinary tract symptoms. Results: A total of 148 questionnaires were distributed, with a response rate of 75.7%, where 112 respondents completed the questionnaires, including 54.3% residents, 39% general practitioners, and 5.4% specialists. Fifty-seven percent of respondents were males and 68% were Saudi practitioners. A higher number of respondents expressed that they were able to catheterize a male than female patient (56.5% versus 34.3%). Only 6.4% of respondents defined microscopic hematuria accurately. Knowledge about hematuria, serum prostate specific antigen and overactive bladder was low in all groups. Apart from hematuria, seeking urological consultations was less than 35% for all other disease entities. Conclusion: Urological knowledge among PHC physicians seems to be insufficient. Significant percentages of the participants were unable to catheterize a female patient, did not know the definition of hematuria; and whether to ask for urological consultations in cases of hematuria, increased PSA, and overactive bladder.

Introduction: We sought to determine the possible predictors for effective insertion of the ureteral access sheath (UAS) during flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) in virgin ureters and its impact on postoperative ureteral wall injury and the procedural outcome. Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed for all consecutive patients scheduled for fURS of virgin ureters at two tertiary care centers between 2018 and 2020. Demographics, stone characteristics, and perioperative data, including the configuration of the ureteral orifice (UO) over introductory guidewire insertion, were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to detect possible predictors of successful UAS insertion. Results: In total, 128 patients who underwent primary fURS were included, with a mean age of 43.3±12.3 years and a stone burden of 12.3±6.9 mm. One hundred and seven patients (85.9%) achieved successful ureteral access insertion, including 81 (63.3%) without ureteral dilatation and 29 (22.7%) out of the 35 (27.3%) patients who needed ureteral dilation. Patients who underwent successful UAS placement into virgin ureters were significantly older and had a lower body mass index. A tent-shaped UO over the guidewire led to successful UAS insertion. In multivariate regression analysis, cases with body mass index (BMI) <30 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR] 1.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28–7.03) and those with a tent-shaped UO over the introductory guidewire (OR 6.60, 95% CI 3.8–7.2) maintained their significance to predict successful UAS insertion into virgin ureters. Nine patients (8.2%) had ureteral mucosal injuries, and the overall stone-free rate was 78.2%. Conclusions: Patients with normal BMIs and tent-shaped UOs over the introductory guidewires are more likely to achieve primary UAS insertion without the need for ureteral dilation.