Radiation via the use of imaging is a key tool in management of kidney stones. Simple measures are largely taken by the endourologists to implement the 'As Low As Reasonably Achievable' (ALARA) principle, including the use of fluoroless technique. We performed a scoping literature review to investigate the success and safety of fluoroless ureteroscopy (URS) or percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedures for the treatment of KSD.
A literature review was performed searching bibliographic databases PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane library, and 14 full papers were included in the review in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
Of the 2535 total procedures analysed, 823 were fluoroless URS vs. 556 fluoroscopic URS; and 734 fluoroless PCNL vs. 277 fluoroscopic PCNL. The SFR for fluoroless vs. fluoroscopic guided URS was 85.3% and 77%, respectively (P = .2), while for fluoroless PCNL vs. fluoroscopic group was 83.8% and 84.6%, respectively (P = .9). The overall Clavien-Dindo I/II and III/IV complications for fluoroless and fluoroscopic guided procedures were 3.1% (n = 71) and 8.5% (n = 131), and 1.7% (n = 23) and 3% (n = 47) respectively. Only 5 studies reported a failure of the fluoroscopic approach with a total of 30 (1.3%) failed procedures.
The ALARA protocol has been implemented in endourology in numerous ways to protect both patients and healthcare workers during recent years. Fluoroless procedures for treatment of KSD are safe and effective with outcomes comparable to standard procedures and could become the new frontier of endourology in selected cases.
Actas urologicas espanolas. 2023 Jun 15 [Epub ahead of print]
V Massella, A Pietropaolo, V Gauhar, E Emiliani, B K Somani, el Grupo de Trabajo de Urolitiasis de la sección de Jóvenes Urólogos Académicos (YAU) de la Asociación Europea de Urología (EAU)
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario de Southampton, United Kingdom., Servicio de Urología, Hospital General Ng Teng Fong, Singapore., Servicio de Urología, Fundación Puigvert, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain., Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario de Southampton, United Kingdom. Electronic address: .