Flexible ureteroscopy for renal stone without preoperative ureteral stenting shows good prognosis

Purpose: To clarify the outcome of flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) for management of renal calculi without preoperative stenting. Methods: A total of 171 patients who received 176 fURS procedures for unilateral renal stones were reviewed. All procedures were divided into two groups depending on whether they received ureteral stenting preoperatively. Baseline characteristics of patients, stone burden, operation time, stone-free rates, and complications were compared between both groups. Results: Successful primary access to the renal pelvis was achieved in 104 of 114 (91.2%) patients without preoperative stenting, while all procedures with preoperative stenting (n = 62) were successfully performed. A total of 156 procedures were included for further data analysis (56 procedures in stenting group and 100 in non-stenting group). No significant differences was found regardless of a preoperative stent placement in terms of stone-free rate (73.2% with stenting vs. 71.0% without, P = 0.854), operative time (70.4 +/- 32.8 with stenting vs. 70.2 +/- 32.1 without, P = 0.969). Conclusions: fURS for management of renal stone without preoperative ureteral stenting are associated with well outcome in short term follow-up. Our study may help patients and doctors to decide if an optional stent is placed or not.