The Role of Preoperative Ureteral Diameter Measurements in Predicting Difficult Access During Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis of 234 Patients

This study investigates the role of preoperative ureteral diameter measurements in predicting difficult access during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in patients with kidney stones. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 234 patients who underwent RIRS, evaluating factors such as preoperative ureteral diameters (measured at distal, iliac, and upper ureteral levels via CT scans), stone size, patient demographics, operation duration, and surgical success rates. The findings aim to determine whether ureteral diameter measurements can serve as reliable predictors for surgical challenges, ultimately improving preoperative planning and patient outcomes.

This retrospective study evaluates the role of preoperative ureteral diameter measurements in predicting difficult access during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in patients with kidney stones. A total of 234 patients who underwent RIRS were included in the analysis. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were used to measure ureteral diameters at three levels: distal ureter, iliac ureter, and upper ureter. The relationship between ureteral diameter and intraoperative access difficulty was assessed. The study also analyzed patient demographics (age, gender, BMI), stone characteristics (size, location), operative parameters (duration, access attempts), and outcomes (surgical success and complication rates). Difficult access during RIRS was defined based on the number of attempts required to achieve successful ureteral access, need for secondary procedures, or inability to complete the planned surgery. The primary aim was to determine whether preoperative ureteral diameter measurements can serve as predictive markers for challenging surgical access. Secondary objectives included identifying other patient or stone-related factors contributing to access difficulty and evaluating their impact on surgical outcomes. The findings may assist clinicians in preoperative planning, improving patient selection for RIRS, and optimizing intraoperative strategies to minimize complications and enhance procedural success rates.