title: Flexible ureterorenoscopy results: Analysis of 279 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the outcomes of 279 cases in whom we performed retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) were evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  RIRS was performed on 279 cases with the aid of access sheath of guidewire between March 2011 and February 2015. All patients were operated in the standard lithotomy position. A hydrophilic guidewire was inserted with the aid of rigid ureterorenoscopy and we checked whether there were any residual ureteral stones and other pathologies. Fluoroscopy was used routinely in all cases. Stone fragments smaller than 3 mm were left off but those bigger than 3 mm were removed by grasper after stone fragmentation. Controls of the patients were assessed by plain films (KUB), urinary tract ultrasonography (US) and/or computed tomography (CT) 1 month after the operation. Success rate of the procedure was defined as the stone-free status or presence of residual fragments less than 3 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  152 of the patients were male and 127 were female. The median ages of the male and female patients were 47.7 (1-86) ve 45.9 (3-79) years respectively. The median stone size was 13.5 mm (8-25). Preoperatively 34 (12.1%) patients had double-J ureteral stent. 19 (6.8%) patients were operated while they were still receiving antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy Solitary kidney was present in 24 patients while the remaining patients had kyphoscoliosis (n=3), rotation anomaly (n=6), pelvic kidney (n=2), double collecting system (n=3), and horseshoe kidney (n=6). In 264 patients access sheath was used, in 15 patients operation was performed with the help of the guidewire. Double-J stents were inserted to 14 patients because of ureteral stricture and they underwent operation after 2 weeks later. Renal stones of 219 patients among all cases were fragmented completely and the patients were discharged as stone free (SF). Our success rate (SF or presence of clinically insignificant residual [CIRF]) was 78.4%. Stone size (p=0.029), stone number (p=0.01), stone location (p=0.023) had significant influence on the stone-free rate after RIRS The mean operation and floroscopy time was 62.5 min. (40-180) and 29.8 sec (4-96), respectively. The mean hospitalization time was 26.4 hours (12-72). Double J stents were placed to 253 patients for more stone burden and ureteral edema. Any complication was not observed for all cases except perioperative developed infection for two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With advances in laser technology and flexible ureterorenoscopy, kidney stones can be treated with lower morbidity and high success rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elbir
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: İsmail
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Başıbüyük
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Urology, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topaktaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kardaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosun
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tepeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bezmialem Vakif University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armağan
keywords: Flexible ureterorenoscopy; kidney stone; retrograde intrarenal surgery