ReviewNature reviews. Urology2015
What is the stone-free rate following flexible ureteroscopy for kidney stones?
Review in Nature reviews. Urology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 76 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
76 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Comparison of Surgical Outcomes between Single-Use and Reusable Flexible Ureteroscopes for Renal Stone Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2022Pooled it
- RIRS with flexible vacuum-assisted ureteral access sheath for large renal stones: a prospective randomized controlled study.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Clinical study of the postural drainage lithotripsy system for the treatment of residual fragments after retrograde intrarenal surgery.World journal of urology · 2025Trial
- Single-access mini-PCNL with flexible cystoscopy vs. multi-access mini-PCNL for complex renal stones in prospective study.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- The Efficacy and Safety of Radiation-Free Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter-Based, Randomized, Controlled Trial.The Journal of urology · 2024Trial
- Ultramini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy versus retrograde intrarenal surgery in the treatment of 10-30 mm calculi: a randomized controlled trial.Urolithiasis · 2022Trial
- Ningmitai capsule promotes calculi expulsion after RIRS for 10-20-mm upper urinary stones: a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial.Urolithiasis · 2022Trial
- Clinical efficacy and safety of flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy using 365 μm holmium laser for nephrolithiasis: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.World journal of urology · 2020Trial
- Slice thickness matters: CT-based evaluation of stone-free status with grade classification after RIRS.World journal of urology · 2026Article
- The durability and effectiveness of hydrogel retrieval method for urinary stone fragments: an in-vitro study.World journal of urology · 2026Article
- Autologous blood coagulum for fragment removal after ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.The Canadian journal of urology · 2026Article
- A novel regional anesthesia technique for retrograde intrarenal surgery in high-risk patients: a prospective observational study.BMC anesthesiology · 2026Observational
- Impact of diabetes mellitus on stone access and surgical outcomes in patients undergoing ureteroscopic lithotripsy: a retrospective cohort study.BMC urology · 2026Article
- Efficacy of 1 mSv ultra-low-dose CT with automated volume analyzer software for detecting residual tiny fragments and dust particles after laser lithotripsy: an ex vivo Phantom study.World journal of urology · 2026Article
- Clinical validation of an AI-assisted system for real-time kidney stone detection during flexible ureteroscopic surgery.NPJ digital medicine · 2025Article
- Comparison of tip-flexible negative pressure suction sheath and conventional sheath in pediatric renal calculi RIRS: the Hotan experience.Urolithiasis · 2025Article
- Feasibility and Safety of Primary Ureteroscopy with Single-Use Flexible Ureteroscope HU30M (6.3 Fr, HugeMed): An Initial Experience.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The impact of the ratio of renal parenchyma to renal volume on stone-free rates after RIRS: a retrospective study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Postoperative urinary tract infections following flexible ureteroscopy: a prospective cohort study in the West bank of Palestine.BMC urology · 2025Article
16 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issuedWhat is the stone-free rate following flexible ureteroscopy for kidney stones?2015 · Wolf, J Stuart [corrected to Wolf, J Stuart Jr]
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Flexible ureteroscopy (URS) is increasingly being used as the first-line treatment for patients with renal stones. Despite this increase in use, substantial variations exist in the reported stone-free rates (SFR) following flexible URS. These variations are a result of inconsistencies in the definition of 'stone-free', which reflect variations in the type of imaging used to assess the presence of stones postoperatively and the timing of the assessment. Other possible factors such as the importance of residual fragments following stone surgery, and the size and position of the stones might also account for variations in stone-free rates. In order to obtain an accurate estimate of the SFR, especially within subgroups defined by stone characteristics and exact technique, we compare reported SFRs from studies that use imaging other than CT for follow-up and those that use only CT. We also review the evidence on the importance of active retrieval of fragments during flexible URS and whether this technique improves the outcomes of patients with kidney stones.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.