Is fluoroscopy necessary during flexible ureteroscopy for the treatment of renal stones?

Figures & data

Figure 1. The step-by-step ffURS procedure: (a, b, c) The measurement of ureteric length for insertion of the ureteric access sheath after the semi-rigid URS. (d) Insertion of the ureteric access sheath over the guidewire. (e) Control of the ureteric access sheath placement with the urine drainage from the renal pelvis.

Table 1. Clinical data of the 576 patients.

Variable	Value
Age, years, mean (SD)	44.7 (13.6)
Stone size, cm, mean (SD)	11.6 (5.2)
Gender, n (%)
Male	382 (66.3)
Female	194 (33.7)
Stone laterality, n (%)
Left	309 (57.1)
Right	267 (42.9)
Stone localization, n (%)
Upper calyx	74 (12.8)
Mid calyx	112 (19.4)
Lower calyx	167 (29.0)
Renal pelvis	153 (26.6)
Multiple	70 (12.2)
Presence of preoperative stent, n (%)	53 (9.2)
Preoperative hydronephrosis, n (%)
No	428 (74.4)
Grade 1	95 (16.5)
Grade 2	40 (6.9)
Grade 3	13(2.2)
Achieved ffURS, n (%)	557 (96.7)

Table 2. Perioperative and postoperative outcomes of the 557 patients with successful ffURS.

Variable	Value
Operating time, min, mean (SD)	39.4 (8.2)
Hospitalization time, h, mean (SD)	21.4 (5.8)
SFR, n (%)	464 (83.3)
CIRF rate, n (%)	41 (7.3)
Second session ffURS rate, n (%)	32 (5.7)
Third session ffURS rate, n (%)	7 (1.2)
Ureteric access sheath insertion rate, n (%)	509 (91.3)
JJ-stent insertion rate, n (%)	523 (93.8)
Overall complication rate, n (%)	64 (11.8)
Renal colic	21 (3.7)
Fever	19 (3.4)
Urinary infection	11 (1.9)
Transient VUR	4 (0.7)
Paralytic ileus	3 (0.5)
Grade I ureteric laceration	4 (0.7)
Grade II ureteric laceration	2 (0.3)