A Prospective Study of Renal Blood Flow during Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery

(I) Introduction: The use of Doppler ultrasound allows us to indirectly assess the effect of increased intrarenal pressure on renal blood flow during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). On the basis of vascular flow spectra from selected blood vessels in the kidney, it is possible to determine Doppler parameters that reflect the renal perfusion status, which indirectly shows the degree of vasoconstriction and reflects the resistance of kidney tissue. (II) Materials and methods: A total of 56 patients were included in the study. The study assessed the changes of three Doppler parameters of intrarenal blood flow: resistive index-RI, pulsatility index-PI, and acceleration time-AT in the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys during RIRS. The effects of mean stone volume, energy used, and pre-stenting were examined as predictors and calculated at two time intervals. (III) Results: The mean value of RI and PI was significantly higher in the ipsilateral kidney than in the contralateral kidney just after RIRS. The mean value of the acceleration time was not significantly different before and after RIRS. The values of all three parameters 24 h after the procedure were comparable to their values immediately after the RIRS. The size of the stone exposed to laser lithotripsy, the value of the energy used, and pre-stenting are not factors that significantly influence Doppler parameters during RIRS. (IV) Conclusions: The significant increase in RI and PI after RIRS in the ipsilateral kidney suggests a vasoconstriction of the interlobar arteries generated by increased intrarenal pressure during the procedure.