The Impact of Preoperative JJ Stent Diameter on Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A RIRSearch Group Study

Introduction: A JJ stent placed before retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) may passively dilate the ureter and facilitate ureteral access sheath (UAS) implantation. No studies have examined the significance of preoperative JJ stent diameter, even though numerous studies have shown that UAS insertion is simpler in patients with them. Our study examines the relationship between preoperative ureteral stent caliber and UAS placement and RIRS results. Materials and Methods: A total of 655 patients with known preoperative double-J stent size before RIRS were analyzed. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their preoperative stent diameter (Group 1: 4.8 Fr and Group 2: 6 Fr). Demographic and clinical data of the patients, stone characteristics, surgical data, perioperative and postoperative complications, duration of hospitalization, and stone-free rates (SFRs) were analyzed for comparison. Results: The groups contained 323 and 332 patients. The demographic data of the two groups were similar. There was no statistically significant difference between SFR, UAS insertion rate, hospitalization time, and complications. The success rate of placing a UAS with a higher caliber was statistically significantly higher in those with a 6 Fr JJ stent than in those with a 4.8 Fr stent (P = .001). The operation time was also shorter in the group with a thicker stent (P = .003). Conclusions: Our data suggest that while the preoperative JJ stent diameter does not significantly affect overall UAS insertion success, complication rates, or postoperative stone-free status, using a 6 Fr stent facilitates the placement of larger UAS calibers and may decrease operation time. Consequently, although both stent diameters are efficacious, selecting a 6 Fr stent may provide procedural benefits without jeopardizing safety or results.