Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) is an endoscopic medical procedure performed to eliminate renal stones. The procedure is done using an flexible ureteroscope, which is put through the urethra into the bladder and afterward through the ureter into the kidney. Through this, a laser fiber (Holmium/Thulium laser) is utilized to break the stones.

How Kidney Stones are treated?

The ureteroscope has a little camera fitted at its end which is utilized to assess the kidney stones. A screen present in the surgical procedure room shows the whole anatomy of the patient’s kidney caught by the ureteroscope. Through an laser beam, the stones are fragmented into fine powder or pieces. These fine pieces are removed or can pass effectively through the urination.

What are the advantages of RIRS over old techniques?

RIRS is most certainly less intrusive than old procedures like PCNL, laparoscopic or open surgery as it is totally scar less. Since we enter the kidney going through urinary tract and there is no compelling reason to make any cuts on skin or opening into the kidney (as in PCNL), there is lesser risk of complications, hospital stay is exceptionally short, there is notably shorter recovery and patient can very soon return to his routine daily activities.

What is advantage of using high power laser in RIRS?

The best result for patients can be given with the utilization of High power laser. Stone clearance in patients with kidney stones up to 3 cm can also be possible with a powerful Thulium laser.

RIRS is the future of stone surgery. It does require a reasonable amount of experience to master the technique of RIRS but it is immensely beneficial to the patient.