The Impact of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for Asymptomatic Renal Stones in Patients Undergoing Ureteroscopy for a Symptomatic Ureteral Stone

Abstract Background and Purpose: In the era of rigid ureteroscopy (URS) for ureteral stones, asymptomatic renal stones were often left in place. With the advent of flexible URS, however, the treatment of such renal stones became an attractive option. Data are scarce regarding the impact of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) performed at the time of URS for a symptomatic ureteral stone in comparison with ureteral stone removal alone. The purpose of the study was to compare the outcomes of URS combined with RIRS with URS alone. Patients and Methods: A comparison between patients who underwent URS and RIRS (group A, n=47) and a matched control group of patients undergoing URS alone (group B, n=47) was performed. Matching was based on ureteral stone size and location, and preprocedural Double-J stent placement. Results: The median size of the largest ureteral stone in both groups was 8 mm with a mean total stone burden of 52.9 mm2 (28.9) and 47 mm2 (21.1) in groups A and B, respectively. Median renal stone ...