Multi-aspect analysis of ureteral access sheath usage in retrograde intrarenal surgery: A RIRSearch group study

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ureteral access sheath(UAS)use and calibration change on stone-free rate and complications of retrograde intrarenal surgery(RIRS).Methods:Data from 568 patients undergoing RIRS for kidney or upper ureteral stones were retrospectively included.Firstly,patients were compared after 1:1 propensity score matching,according to UAS usage during RIRS(UAS used[+]87 and UAS non-used[−]87 patients).Then all UAS+patients(n=481)were subdivided according to UAS calibration:9.5-11.5 Fr,10-12 Fr,11-13 Fr,and 13-15 Fr.Primary outcomes of the study were the success and complications of RIRS.Results:Stone-free rate of UAS+patients(86.2%)was significantly higher than UAS−patients(70.1%)after propensity score matching(p=0.01).Stone-free rate increased with higher caliber UAS(9.5-11.5 Fr:66.7%;10-12 Fr:87.0%;11-13 Fr:90.6%;13-15 Fr:100%;p<0.001).Postoperative complications of UAS+patients(11.5%)were significantly lower than UAS−patients(27.6%)(p=0.01).Complications(8.7%)with 9.5-11.5 Fr UAS was lower than thicker UAS(17.2%)but was not statistically significant(p=0.09).UAS usage was an independent factor predicting stone-free status or peri-and post-operative complications(odds ratio[OR]3.654,95%confidence interval[CI]1.314-10.162;OR 4.443,95%CI 1.350-14.552;OR 4.107,95%CI 1.366-12.344,respectively).Conclusion:Use of UAS in RIRS may increase stone-free rates,which also increase with higher caliber UAS.UAS usage may reduce complications;however,complications seemingly increase with higher UAS calibration.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery for lower pole stones utilizing stone displacement technique yields excellent results

Objective:To evaluate the long-term stone-free rate(SFR)of retrograde intrarenal surgery(RIRS)in the treatment of lower pole renal calculi using only basket relocation and identify independent predictors of stone-free status.Methods:All consecutive patients undergoing RIRS lower pole renal calculi at a single highvolume tertiary center were analyzed retrospectively.Lower pole stones were relocated to the upper pole,where laser lithotripsy was performed.All patients were followed up in the clinic following the surgery and yearly thereafter.The stone-free status was assessed with a combination of an abdominal ultrasound and abdominal X-ray,or an abdominal non-contrast computed tomography if the stones were known to be radiolucent.Results:A total of 480 consecutive patients who underwent RIRS for treatment of lower pole renal calculi,between January 2012 and December 2018,were analyzed from a prospectively maintained database of 3000 ureteroscopies.With a median follow-up time of 18.6 months,the mean SFR was 94.8%.The procedures were unsuccessful in 26(5.4%)patients due to unreachable stones.The median stone size of the unreachable stones was 12 mm(range 10e30 mm).Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed two predictors of SFR for lower pole stones:a small cumulative stone burden(odds ratio[OR]:0.903,95%confidence interval[CI]:0.867e0.941,p<0.0001)and preoperative ureteral stent insertion(OR:0.515,95%CI:0.318e0.835,pZ0.007).Conclusion:The long-term SFR of RIRS for the treatment of lower pole stones with basket displacement with appropriate patient selection is high.

Sheathless and fluoroscopy-free retrograde intrarenal surgery:An attractive way of renal stone management in high-volume stone centers

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sheathless and fluoroscopy-free flexible ureterorenoscopic laser lithotripsy(FURSL)for treating renal stones.Methods:Between May 2015 and May 2017,135 patients with renal stones treated with sheathless and fluoroscopy-free FURSL were prospectively evaluated.Our technique involved a semirigid ureteroscopic assessment of the ureter,and the guidewire was left in situ to railroad the flexible ureteroscope.A holmium laser was used to fragment and dust the stones;fragments were neither grasped nor collected.Results:The study population consisted of 135 patients including 85 males(62.96%)and 50 females(37.04%)with a mean age of 40.65 years(range:3-70 years)were evaluated.The mean stone size was 17.23 mm(range:8-41 mm).Complete stone-free status was achieved in 122(90.37%)patients and clinically insignificant residual fragments(CIRF)in two(1.48%),while residual stones were still present in 11(8.15%)patients.Postoperative complications occurred in 23(17.4%)cases and were mostly minor,including fever in 17(12.6%),pyelonephritis in four(3.0%),subcapsular hematoma in one(0.7%)and steinstrasse in one(0.7%).These complications were Clavien Ⅰ-Ⅱ,GⅠ in 17(12.6%)patients,GⅡ in five(3.7%),and Clavien Ⅲb in one(0.7%).No major complications were observed.Stone size2 cm,operative time ≥30 min,and lasing time ≥20 min were significantly associated with a higher rate of complications and lower stone-free rates upon univariate analysis(p<0.05).Conclusion:Sheathless and fluoroscopy-free FURSL are effective and safe for renal stone management,especially for stones under 2 cm in diameter.This process is a feasible option for avoiding sheath complications,which can protect surgeons from the negative effects of radiation.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery:An expanding role in treatment of urolithiasis

During the past 3 decades,the surgical management of kidney stones has undergone many technological advances and one is the development of the flexible ureteroscopy.The development of this instrument as well as ancillary equipment such as baskets,graspers,and others,and improvements in lithotripsy with Holmium:YAG laser have led to expand its indications with diagnostic and therapeutic management of medical issues of the upper urinary tract such as urolithiasis and urothelial tumors.The objective of this review is to describe its indications and results in the different scenarios for the treatment of urinary stones.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery in pediatric patients

Urinary tract stone disease is seen at a level of 1%-2% in childhood(< 18 years).In recent years,however,there has been a marked increased in pediatric stone disease,particularly in adolescence.A carbohydrateand salt-heavy diet and a more sedentary lifestyle are implicated in this increase.Although stone disease is rare in childhood,its presence is frequently associated with metabolic or anatomical disorders or infectious conditions,for which reason there is a high possibility of post-therapeutic recurrence.Factors such as a high possibility of recurrence and increasing incidence further enhance the importance of minimally invasive therapeutic options in children,with their expectations of a long life.In children in whom active stone removal is decided on,the way to achieve the highest level of success with the least morbidity is to select the most appropriate treatment modality.Thanks to today's advanced technology,renal stones that were once treated only by surgery can now be treated with minimally in-vasive techniques,from invasion of the urinary system in an antegrade(percutaneous nephrolithotomy) or retrograde(retrograde intrarenal surgery) manner or shock wave lithotripsy to laparoscopic stone surgery.This compilation study examined studies involving the RIRS procedure,the latest minimally invasive technique,in children and compared the results of those studies with those from other techniques.

Massive retroperitoneal hematoma as an acute complication of retrograde intrarenal surgery:A case report

BACKGROUND Retrograde intrarenal surgery(RIRS)has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment modality in large-scale quantitative studies.However,although its safety profile has been established,it also has a potential risk of life-threatening complications.We here describe our experience with a patient who developed a huge periureteral hematoma after RIRS with holmium laser lithotripsy.CASE SUMMARY A 73-year-old woman visited our center with a complaint of gross hematuria.An enhanced computed tomography(CT)scan revealed a 1.5-cm left renal pelvis stone with hydronephrosis.The patient underwent RIRS.During the surgery,a 12/14-Fr ureteral access sheath was applied and a 6-Fr ureteral catheter was indwelled thereafter.On postoperative day 1,she experienced aggravated left flank pain and left lower-quadrant tenderness without rebound tenderness.A follow-up CT scan was taken,which revealed a huge hematoma in the periureteral space,not in the perirenal space,with suspicious contrast medium extravasation.Immediate angiography was performed;however,it showed no evidence of active bleeding.She was conservatively managed with hydration and antibiotic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy,and was discharged on postoperative day 7.However,she visited our outpatient department with recurrent left flank pain at 5 d from discharge.Ultrasonography confirmed that the double J-stent was intact.To rule out stent malfunction,the stent was changed.Decreased size of the hematoma was observed in the imaging studies,and conservative management for candiduria was performed for 1 wk.CONCLUSION Although RIRS is an effective and safe procedure for the management of renal stones,clinicians should be aware of its potential complications.

Comparison stone-free rate and effects on quality of life of percutaneous nephrolithotomy and retrograde intrarenal surgery for treatment of renal pelvis stone(2-4 cm):A prospective controlled study

Objectives:The aim of our study was to compare the effects on quality of life(QoL)and stone-free rate(SFR)of percutane nephrolithotomy(PNL)and retrograde intrarenal surgery(RIRS)in patients with renal stones 2-4 cm.Materials and methods:A total of 102 patients with renal pelvis stones were enrolled in this prospective controlled study,of which 52 were performed RIRS and 50 with PNL.The QoL was evaluated by using Short From-36 pre-and post-operatively.Also,the surgical data of all patients during and after the operations were compared between the 2 groups.Results:The mean age,body mass index,stone size and density of the patients in the 2 groups were statistically similar(p>0.05).The SFR of PNL and RIRS were found 94%(47/50)and 73%(38/52),respectively(p<0.01).There were no statistically differences between operation times,minor complication rates and Short From-36 scores of the 2 groups.Hospitalization times were 1.13±0.34days for RIRS and 2.9±5.7days for PNL(p<0.05).While the blood transfusion rate of PNL group was 8%(4/50),none patient was made blood transfusion in RIRS.Conclusions:The results of our study show that the blood transfusion rates and hospitalization times of RIRS group are significantly lower than PNL for management of renal pelvis stone 2-4 cm.Despite these advantages of RIRS,the SFR is significantly lower than PNL for these stones.The effects on QoL of the both interventions before and after surgery were similar.