The Efficacy and Safety of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Multi-Center Experience of the RIRSearch Group Study

Objective: We reported the results of retrograde intrarenal surgeries (RIRS) according to multi-center experience and to assess the efficacy and safety of this procedure. Materials and Methods: A total of 1067 patients to whom RIRS operations were performed between 2016 and 2021 were included in the study. The demographic and clinical features of patients, stone properties, per-operative, and post-operative results were analyzed retrospectively. Additionally, the success and complication rates of RIRS according to the clinical and demographic properties of the patients were analyzed. Results: The mean age, stone volume, operation time, and hospitalization time were 46.8 & PLUSMN;15.4, 1011 mm3 (min 19 mm3- max 12.483 mm3), 67.4 & PLUSMN;30.8 min, and 1.83 & PLUSMN;2.3 days, respectively. The stone-free (success) rate after RIRS was 74.5%. In multivariate analysis, pre-op pyuria, number of stones, and stone volume had a significant effect on success. There were 251 (23.5%) patients with post-operative complications. The most common complications were hematuria, fever, and urinary tract infections; they comprised 86.8% of all complications. The number of stones, pre-op ESL, and absence of pre-operative DJ stent had a significant effect on complications in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Retrograde intrarenal surgery is an efficient minimal invasive procedure for treating urinary system stone disease with low morbidity and high success rates. Although the complication rates are mostly insignificant, there may also be severe vital complications.