Kidney stones are hard deposits of waste products of the human body like uric acid or minerals like calcium. Usually, they are very small and naturally flush out of the body, but some grow bigger as the minerals accumulate, and if they block the urinary tract, they can be very painful. They may then need to be surgically removed.
Surgery would be advised when the stone is too large to flush out by itself; it is blocking the urine flow out of the kidney or is extremely painful and is causing urinary infections.
Retrograde ureteroscopic Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) is one of the methods used these days. With advances in technology, RIRS has become a safe and efficient option. RIRS can be used as primary treatment for patients with stones smaller than 2 cm. It is also used for those with obesity; muscular and skeletal deformities and bleeding disorders.
This procedure, done under general anaesthesia, involves inserting a flexible endoscope called a ureteroscope through the urinary opening into the bladder, through the ureter into the kidney. This is ‘Retrograde’ as it moves up the urinary system and ‘Intrarenal’ as it enters the kidney.
The stones are then viewed through the scope and either grabbed with an extremely tiny forcep, also inserted the same way, and then gently pulled out; or, vapourised using a laser probe.
RIRS should be performed by an endourologist, a urologist specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidneys, ureter and bladder.
RIRS can be considered much superior to others, with its less complicated methods; causes fewer medical complications; has a good stone-free rate and the patient can leave the hospital in a day and restart normal life within two or three days.
Reviewed By: Dr Mahendra Jain
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