Outcomes of retrograde intrarenal surgery after previous SWL failure

Objectives: To evaluate whether previous shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) failure affects the outcomes of retrograde intrarenal surgery for renal pelvis stones between 1-2 cm or not Design: Retrospective study Settings: Tertiary University Hospital Subjects: Eighty-seven patients with renal pelvis stones between 1-2 cm Intervention: Shock wave lithotripsy and retrograde intrarenal surgery was performed for renal pelvis stones. Main outcome measures: In group 1, all patients were primary cases, and in group 2, SWL treatment had been performed to all patients and had failed. The medical records were assessed on the aspect of primary and secondary end points of the study. The primary end point of this study was the surgical success rate on the first postoperative day. Secondary end points were fluoroscopy time, lithotripsy duration and time of the surgery peroperatively, and the surgical success and stone-free situation at the end of the first month, postoperatively. Results: The mean lithotripsy duration was significantly longer in group 2 (35.06 +/- 4.40 min; P <0.05). Surgical success was obtained in 45 (88.2%) patients in group 1 and in 30 (83.3%) patients in group 2 (P=0.51). The stone-free rates were 94.1% and 91.7% in groups 1 and 2 respectively one month after the procedures (P=0.65). The fluoroscopy time was significantly longer in group 2 (P <0.01). Conclusion: It has determined that SWL failure results in a longer duration of surgery, longer fluoroscopy time, and does not affect the surgical success of retrograde intrarenal surgery.