Evaluation of a fluoroscopy-free, ureteral access sheath-free, and stent-free approach to retrograde intrarenal surgery.

purposeWe sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an approach attempting no fluoroscopy (F), ureteral sheaths (US), or stents (S) during retrograde intrarenal surgery (NoFUSS-RIRS) and to compare it to conventional RIRS (C-RIRS).

methodsWe prospectively collected data on the first 75 NoFUSS-RIRS procedures in patients with 5-20 mm renal stones and compared them to a cohort of 75 prior patients undergoing C-RIRS which involved fluoroscopy and stent placement. Baseline characteristics, safety outcomes (including Clavien-Dindo complications, ED visits, and readmissions), and CT-determined stone-free rates were compared. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of fluoroscopy and stent utilization.

resultsThe NoFUSS protocol was successfully implemented in over 90% of patients, with no cases requiring fluoroscopy or ureteral sheaths and only 9.3% requiring a stent. There were no significant differences in baseline or stone characteristics between groups. Median operating room time was significantly shorter in the NoFUSS-RIRS group (46 vs. 64 min, p < 0.001). There were no differences in complications (6.7% vs. 6.7%), ED visits (5.3% vs. 5.3%), or readmissions (2.7% vs. 2.7%) between NoFUSS-RIRS and C-RIRS groups, all p = 1. There were no significant differences in CT-based stone-free rates across all residual fragment (RF) categories including zero RF (NoFUSS-RIRS: 82.7% vs. C-RIRS: 72.7%, p = 0.199), RF < 3 mm, and RF ≥ 3 mm.

conclusionsA NoFUSS-RIRS protocol offers similar stone-free rates compared to C-RIRS with no increase in safety-related outcomes. Moreover, operative costs and radiation exposure to patients and operating room staff can be significantly reduced.