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Ureteral access sheaths in RIRS: a retrospective, comparative, single-center study

  • Giuseppe Celentano , Biagio Barone ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Roberto La Rocca , Matteo Massanova , Luigi Napolitano , Domenico Prezioso , Marco Abate , Benito Fabio Mirto , Ferdinando Fusco and Felice Crocetto
Published/Copyright: September 20, 2024

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the use of ureteral access sheaths (UAS) in reducing operative time and complications, as well as improving stone-free rates (SFR), while assessing their overall safety and efficiency.

Methods

Data regarding 234 patients who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for stones up to 3 cm between January 2017 and March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. About 52.5 % of procedures were performed utilizing a UAS. Differences in operative time, fluoroscopy time, stone-free rate, and complications were analyzed between procedures with and without UAS and stratified, according to stone burden size, into three groups (Group A: 0.5–1 cm; Group B: 1–2 cm; Group C: 2–3 cm).

Results

Operative time, fluoroscopy time, and residual fragments size were lower in RIRS without UAS, respectively, 54.27 ± 24.02 vs. 62.23 ± 22.66 min (p=0.010), 2.72 ± 0.89 vs. 4.44 ± 1.67 min (p<0.0001), and 3.85 ± 0.813 vs. 4.60 ± 0.83 mm (p=0.011). Considering stone burden, operative time was lower in RIRS without UAS for Group A (36.40 ± 8.555 vs. 46.05 ± 6.332 min) (p<0.0001) while higher for Group B (60.39 ± 18.785 vs. 50.14 ± 5.812 min) (p=0.002). Similarly, fluoroscopy time was lower in RIRS without UAS in every group, respectively, 2.11 ± 0.34 vs. 2.74 ± 0.57 min (p<0.0001), 2.94 ± 0.51 vs. 4.72 ± 0.37 min (p<0.0001), and 3.78 ± 1.26 vs. 6.79 ± 1.17 min (p<0.0001). Only Group C had a statistically significant difference in residual fragment size without UAS (3.89 ± 0.782 vs. 4.75 ± 0.886 mm) (p=0.050).

Conclusions

UAS should be carefully evaluated considering the increased fluoroscopy time and the differences in operative time related to different stone burdens.


Corresponding author: Biagio Barone, Department of Urology, Ospedale San Paolo, ASL NA1 Centro, 80125 Naples, Italy, E-mail:
Giuseppe Celentano, Biagio Barone, and Felice Crocetto contributed equally to this work.
  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  4. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  5. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  6. Conflict of interest: All other authors state no conflict of interest.

  7. Research funding: None declared.

  8. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-08-04
Accepted: 2024-08-29
Published Online: 2024-09-20

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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