title: The impact of retrograde intrarenal surgery for asymptomatic renal stones in patients undergoing ureteroscopy for a symptomatic ureteral stone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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 mm(2) (28.9) and 47 mm(2) (21.1) in groups A and B, respectively. Median renal stone size was 9 mm with a mean total stone burden of 84.1 mm(2) (40.3). Mean surgery time in groups A and B was 68 minutes (19.61) and 39 minutes (15.96), respectively (P<0.001). Median hospital stay was 1 day for both groups. The success rate for ureteral stone removal was 98% and 100% in groups A and B, respectively. Success rate for RIRS was 85% (40/47 cases). Hospitalization length and complications, mainly postoperative fever, did not differ significantly between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Managing asymptomatic renal stones at the time of URS for symptomatic ureteral stones significantly prolongs surgery duration but does not lengthen hospital stay, increase complications, or lower success rates. This combined approach reduces the need for future procedures and is probably more cost effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Golda Hospital, Rabin Medical Center and Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Petah Tikva, Israel. gohanan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Raanan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Dov M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lask
authors.forename: Pinhas M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Livne
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lifshitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods*