Evaluation of validity and reliability of novel rapid measurement for infundibulopelvic angle: a comparison with PACS system

ABSTRACT

Background

For patients with lower pole renal calculi (LPC), preoperative evaluation of infundibulopelvic angles (IPA) is of great significance; however, conventional measuring method is often inconvenient in clinical setting. Here we introduce a rapid novel method using built-in inclinometer in smartphone which is often used in anatomical parameters evaluating to implement the measurement of IPA.

Materials and methods

The randomized, self-controlled study on evaluating inclinometer application measured IPA on urography films collected from enrolled LPC patients. Results of statistical analysis for its validity and reliability compared to conventional PACS system are reported. Predictive performance of postoperative stone-free rates by IPA measured with the novel method was also evaluated in this study.

Results

Bland–Altman plot result shows that there is favorable agreement between IPA values of these two methods. The time required to utilize the PACS was considerably greater than time required to take similar measure using smartphones. The precision–recall curve (PRC) indicates that the new method has similar predictive performance for postoperative clearance rates as PACS.

Conclusions

In summary, measurement of IPA implemented by integrated inclinometer of smartphone is rapid, convenient, accurate and reliable in evaluating renal anatomy parameters of LPC patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Accessible renal collecting system
• pelvicalyceal anatomy
• lower pole calyx
• rapid measurement
• smart phone
• retrograde intrarenal surgery

Article highlights

• Patients with lower pole calyx often have difficulty expelling kidney stones after retrograde intrarenal surgery, and the accumulated fragments of stones may require multiple surgeries.

• IPA plays an important role in assessing the anatomy of the renal pelvis and helps inform the choice of surgical options

• The use of inclinometers for IPA measurements is easier and faster than traditional measurement methods and is suitable for a variety of clinical settings.

• This study was a randomized, self-controlled study to compare novel and conventional IPA measurement methods.

• Results showed no significant difference in outcome measures in both groups

• The application of this measurement methods may help promote the use of novel UAS for RIRS in the clinical setting

Declaration of interest

The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewers disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Authors’ contributions

Gaojie Zhang and Qiao Xu carried out the conception and design of the research, and Linfeng Wang participated in the acquisition of data. Yongbo Zheng and Siwei Ding carried out the analysis and interpretation of data. Yueqiang Peng performed the statistical analysis. Gaojie Zhang drafted the manuscript, and Qiao Xu participated in revision of manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17434440.2023.2243215

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by the Research Fund Project of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (PYJJ2022-11).