Retrospective Analysis of 90 Patients that Underwent Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery

The aim of the treatment of renal stones is to provide a stone-free status with minimal morbidity. Today, open surgery is increasingly replaced by minimally invasive procedures, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), retrogradintrarenal surgery (RIRC), and laparoscopic stone surgery in both adult and pediatric cases. The European Urology Guidelines recommend ESWL as the first choice for the treatment of stones smaller than 2 cm (1). In stones of this size, the success rate of ESWL is reported as 90%; however, the success rate of ESWL decreases in stones with a harder structure; e.g., cysteine and calcium oxalate monohydrate, those located in the lower renal pole, and in cases with multiple stones (2). Although PNL is considered as the first treatment option for these types of stones and those larger than 2 cm, it has higher morbidity (3). ABSTRACT