Associations between ureteral stent indwelling time, patient characteristics, and stent pain from an international prospective registry.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown conflicting results concerning the optimal duration of ureteral stenting after endourologic treatment of stone disease, its effect on patient comfort, and the necessity for emergent, unscheduled care. This study assessed the impact of stent duration, sex, and other patient-associated factors on reported pain scores using a large, international prospective registry.

Methods: A prospective observational patient registry on ureteral stents from 10 institutions in 4 countries (United States, Canada, France, and Japan) from 2020-2023 was assessed.

Robotic-Assisted Electromagnetic Guidance Improves Success of Percutaneous Access for Nephrolithotomy: A Study of Novices and Experts.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has been a mainstay treatment for large stone burdens since the 1980s, historically offering improved stone-free rates over retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Gaining optimal access into the renal collecting system can be challenging, requiring advanced skills or interventional radiology assistance. The learning curve for fluoroscopic and ultrasonography access can be steep, with only a minority of PCNL access performed by urologists in the United States.

Continuous Intrarenal Pressure Monitoring during Endourological Procedures for Stone Disease: A Canary in the Coalmine for Optimizing Patient Safety.

Background: Ureteroscopy is a widely used minimally invasive procedure for treating kidney stones. While ureteroscopy is generally safe and effective, it carries risks of complications that may be associated with elevated intrarenal pressure (IRP) during the procedure. This paper discusses the importance of monitoring and managing IRP during endourological procedures to mitigate the risk of complications.

Tri-layer ureteral stents, with anti-encrustation surface, offer improved comfort: results from an international stent registry.

A tri-layer ureteral stent with novel coating lining the inner and outer surfaces (Tria) was designed to reduce encrustation. We assessed technical success, complications, and patient symptoms in an international prospective stent registry conducted from 2020 to 2023. Outcomes included technical success, infections, and encrustation rates.

Single-use versus reusable flexible ureterorenoscopes with FANS: a multicenter propensity-matched analysis of outcomes in a large series from the EAU-Endourology Section and FANS Collaborative Group.

Objective: This study compares the clinical outcomes of single-use and reusable flexible ureterorenoscopes (fURS) in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) with flexible and navigable suction access sheath (FANS).

Methods: A multicenter prospective analysis included 704 patients who underwent RIRS with FANS between July 2023 and March 2024. Patients were stratified into two groups: those treated with single-use fURS (Group 1, n = 263) and those with reusable fURS (Group 2, n = 441).

Predictors and associations of complications in ureteroscopy for stone disease using AI: outcomes from the FLEXOR registry.

We aimed to develop machine learning(ML) algorithms to evaluate complications of flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy(fURSL), providing a valid predictive model. 15 ML algorithms were trained on a large number fURSL data from > 6500 patients from the international FLEXOR database. fURSL complications included pelvicalyceal system(PCS) bleeding, ureteric/PCS injury, fever and sepsis.

A novel predictive method for URS and laser lithotripsy using machine learning and explainable AI: results from the FLEXOR international database.

Purpose: We developed Machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict ureteroscopy (URS) outcomes, offering insights into diagnosis and treatment planning, personalised care and improved clinical decision-making.

Methods: FLEXOR is a large international multicentric database including 6669 patients treated with URS for urolithiasis from 2015 to 2023. Preoperative and postoperative(PO) correlations were investigated through 15 ML-trained algorithms.

Association Between Kidney Stones and Subsequent Risk of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the association between a history of kidney stones and the subsequent risk of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

Methods: We systematically searched Medline and Embase for observational studies reporting risk estimates of UTUC in adults with versus without a history of kidney stones. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval.

Long-term mortality risk in US adults with a history of kidney stones: results from NHANES III with over 30 years of follow-up.

Purpose: To investigate the association between a history of kidney stones and long-term all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a nationally representative sample of US adults.

Methods: This observational study included adults who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III, 1988-1994). Kidney stone history was self-reported during the survey.

Burst wave lithotripsy - a paradigm shift: inferences from a scoping review.

Purpose: Urolithiasis, a condition affecting approximately 10% of the global population, is primarily treated with Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) and endoscopic methods. However, SWL's high-pressure pulses can cause tissue injury, often necessitates some level of anaesthesia, and may require repeated sessions or ancillary treatment to achieve stone free status. Burst Wave Lithotripsy (BWL) emerges as a promising alternative, utilizing multi-cycle, ultrasound bursts at lower pressure amplitude to fragment stones, while minimizing cavitation under real-time imaging in a portable manner.

Prospective evaluation of efficacy, safety, cumulative laser energy, and stone-free rates in the post-market SOLTIVE SuperPulsed laser system registry: insights from team of worldwide endourological researchers' (T.O.W.E.R.) research consortium.

The Thulium fiber laser (TFL) is a relatively new tool for endoscopic laser lithotripsy. The Endourological Society's T.O.

Real time monitoring of intrarenal pressures while using the flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath.

Purpose: To report on in-vivo intrarenal pressure (IRP) during flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of kidney stones while using the novel flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS).

Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was performed for 25 patients undergoing routine flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of renal stones between February 2024 and June 2024 from two centres in Canada. The LithoVue Elite™ ureteroscope (Boston Scientific Corp.

Assessing flexible ureteroscopy outcomes for lower Pole versus non lower Pole stones using the flexible and navigable suction ureteric access sheath: a prospective multicenter study by EAU Endourology and PEARLS group.

Purpose: Use of suction in flexible ureteroscopy is increasing lately. The introduction of flexible and navigable suction access sheath (FANS) has shown improved stone free rate (SFR). However, its efficacy in lower pole stone (LPS) in terms of SFR and complications is yet to be studied.

Comparing Thulium Fiber Versus High-Power Holmium Laser Lithotripsy Combined with the Flexible and Navigable Suction Access Sheath in Flexible Ureteroscopy for Kidney Stone Disease: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis by the Global FANS Collaborative Group.

We aim to evaluate stone-free rate (SFR) and complications after flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) for kidney stones, using a flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS), comparing thulium fiber laser (TFL) and high-power holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (HPHL). Data from adults who underwent F-URS in 15 centers were prospectively analyzed (August 2023-January 2024). Exclusion criteria were ureteral stones, concomitant bilateral procedures, and renal abnormalities.

A Global Survey to Assess Urologists' Attitudes Towards Suction Technology in Endourology by the European Association of Urology Section of Endourology and Progressive Endourological Association for Research and Leading Solutions.

Objective: To assess urologists' perceptions and current practices of using suction-based techniques and technologies in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones.

Materials And Methods: A customized web-based 28-item questionnaire was created. All participation was voluntary.

Kidney stone disease Practice patterns among urologists in Canada.

Introduction: Despite kidney stone disease (KSD) guidelines, high-quality evidence for KSD management in Canada is lacking. We aimed to assess Canadian urologists' practice patterns, preferences, and barriers in managing KSD.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to Canadian urologists via the Canadian Urological Association (CUA), Quebec Urological Association (QUA), and Canadian Endourology Group (CEG), as well as directly to urology departments nationwide.

The reused-disposable scope in flexible ureteroscopy for stones as a cost-conscious approach: Reporting the outcomes of a real-world practice multicenter study of 2183 patients by the team of worldwide endourological researchers group.

Introduction: We aimed to assess complications and stone-free rate of flexible ureteroscopy (FU) reusing disposable scopes (RDS) after repeated sterilization.

Methods: Data from adults from 11 centers were retrospectively reviewed (January 2020-December 2022). Inclusion criteria were proximal ureteral/renal stone(s).

Intelligent Ureteral Stent Placeable via Standard Procedure for Kidney Pressure Telemetry: An Ex-Vivo Study.

This paper reports the first telemetric ureteral stent compatible with common placement procedure, enabling wireless sensing and detection of ureteral obstruction and resultant kidney swelling known as hydronephrosis at an early stage. This sensor-integrated "intelligent" ureteral stent is prototyped via the design and fabrication approaches that raise the practicality of the device and tested in a harvested swine kidney-ureter model ex vivo. Leveraging a polymeric double-J stent and micro-electro-mechanical systems technology, the intelligent stent is built by embedding micro pressure sensors and a radiofrequency antenna, forming a resonant circuit that enables wireless kidney pressure monitoring in an operating frequency of 40-50 MHz.

Break Wave Lithotripsy for Urolithiasis: Results of the First-in-Human International Multi-Institutional Clinical Trial.

Purpose: This study reports on a prospective, multicenter, single-arm, clinical trial utilizing the SonoMotion (San Mateo, California) Break Wave lithotripsy (BWL) device to fragment urinary stones.

Materials And Methods: Patients with a urinary stone underwent a single treatment of 30 minutes and peak negative pressure of 4.5 to 8 MPa.

Comparing thulium fiber versus high power holmium laser in bilateral same sitting retrograde intrarenal surgery for kidney stones: Results from a multicenter study.

Purpose: Traditionally, bilateral urolithiasis treatment involved staged interventions due to safety concerns. Recent studies have shown that same-sitting bilateral retrograde intrarenal surgery (SSB-RIRS) is effective, with acceptable complication rates. However, there's no clear data on the optimum laser for the procedure.