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Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery in Children: Evolution, Current Status, and Future Trends
Yesica Quiroz1, Bhaskar Kumar Somani2, Yiloren Tanidir3
1Department of Urology, Division of Pediatric Urology, Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric urolithiasis, showing improved stone-free rates and decreased complications with increased surgeon experience. Further research is needed to optimize its use across all pediatric age groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Urolithiasis Management
Background:
- Pediatric urolithiasis incidence is rising, necessitating advanced treatment options.
- Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) offers a minimally invasive approach via natural orifices, avoiding percutaneous access morbidity.
- This review examines RIRS evolution in children, focusing on age-related anatomical impacts on outcomes.
Approach:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to October 2021 across major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science).
- 51 relevant articles were selected after screening 2022 initial records and 165 full-text articles.
- Two pediatric urologists synthesized findings on RIRS development and pediatric application.
Key Points:
- RIRS is now a preferred modality for pediatric urolithiasis over extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.
- Passive dilation reduces the need for active ureteral dilation, though prestenting necessity remains unclear.
- Ureteral access sheath use is common, but long-term effects on pediatric growth require investigation.
Conclusions:
- RIRS has significantly improved stone-free rates (SFR) and reduced complications in pediatric patients.
- Increased surgeon experience correlates with better RIRS outcomes.
- Further research and larger datasets are essential to establish RIRS as the definitive treatment for all pediatric renal stone cases.
Abstract:
Incidence of urolithiasis in children has increased in recent years and with technological advancements and miniaturization of surgical instruments, pediatric urologists have acquired an impressive arsenal for their treatment. Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) has gained widespread popularity as it is a natural extension of semirigid ureteroscopy and can be done through natural orifice minimizing the morbidity of percutaneous access. The aim of this narrative review is to describe how RIRS has evolved over the decades in children and if the age-related anatomical difference impacts reported outcomes especially stone-free rate (SFR) and complications. An electronic literature search from inception to October 15, 2021 was performed using Medical Subject Heading terms in several combinations on PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science without language restrictions. A total of 2022 articles were founded and 165 articles were full-text screening. Finally, 2 pediatric urologists included 51 articles that summarize the available literature regarding the development and use of RIRS in children. RIRS as of today is well established as a superior modality for all stones in all locations compared with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy both in children and adults. The passive dilation has decreased the need of active ureteral dilation, but the need to perform prestenting is not defined yet. Regarding the use of the ureteral access sheath, the literature tends to lean toward its placement in most cases, but we do not know its long-term effects over the growth of children. Finally, the SFR has increased as the experience of pediatric urologists increases, as well as the number of complications has decreased. RIRS in pediatrics has crossed many milestones, yet many areas need further research and larger data are required to make RIRS the procedure of choice for renal stone management in children across all age groups.
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