Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery is a reliable and efficient medical procedure. A medical professional may recommend opting for RIRS due to peculiar complexities in a case of kidney stone. It is a breakthrough procedure which is minimally invasive and involves a quicker recovery time period.

About the

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery is a reliable and efficient medical procedure. A medical professional may recommend opting for RIRS due to peculiar complexities in a case of kidney stone. It is a breakthrough procedure which is minimally invasive and involves a quicker recovery time period.

About the Treatment

1.      What is the procedure?

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery, also known as RIRS, is a medical procedure that is usually performed to remove kidney stones. A urologist performs it through the assistance of an ultrasound probe and a fiberoptic endoscope. RIRS is considered to be a safe procedure, as it can minimize the risks related to surgery and intraoperative radiation exposure.

The steps of RIRS comprise of:

• Before commencing the procedure, the doctor would perform a preoperative appraisal of the pelvicalyceal anatomy to evaluate the size and characteristics of the stone. It will be done by rigid ureteroscopy.

• Once the evaluation of the same is done, the patient will have to wear a hospital gown and lie on a water-filled cushion. Then, he will be sedated through general anesthesia and provided with antibiotics to avert infections.

• Next, the doctor will do an incision to locate the kidney stones and place the ultrasound probes right over them. Then, he will send high-energy waves through it to crush the stones. In some cases, the doctor might also use a laser probe to evaporate them. In a more invasive procedure, the surgeon may also use forceps to grab them.

• The broken or crushed stones will, then, pass through the urinary system of the patient.

2.      What are the signs and symptoms?

Also known as renal calculi, kidney stones are a form of uric acid or calcium-made hard deposits, which cause a lot of discomfort for the patient. The symptoms of the same may include:

• Moderate to severe pain in the backside or lower abdomen

• A discomforting burning sensation while urinating

• Frequent urination or urinary urgency

• Visible blood in a person’s urine (hematuria)

• Smelly or cloudy urination

• Passing of only a small amount of urine at a time

• Chills and high fever (only occurs if the stones have caused an infection)

• Vomiting and a constant feeling of nausea

3.      How is it diagnosed?

Kidney stones can be diagnosed through several procedures. The list may include:

• Urinalysis (for checking bacteria, crystals, and the number of white cells)

• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)

• Abdominal X-rays

• Ultrasound of an individual’s kidneys

• CT scan of the abdomen

• Retrograde pyelogram

• Creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) for assessing the functioning of the kidneys

• Bloods tests for evaluating the amount of calcium, electrolytes, phosphorus, and uric acid

• MRI scan of the kidneys and abdomen

4.  What are the advantages of the surgery?

The RIRS is one of the most used methods for the treatment of kidney stones. Here are some advantages of the surgery-

• Nil to minimal bleeding

• Less painful

• Minimal complications

• Not a threat to the kidney tissue

• Less morbidity

• Quick recovery time

• Simple and fast procedure

• Less invasive

That being said, if the kidney stones are more than 20 mm in diameter, then RIRS will not be a surgical option. Also if there are a lot of small stones, RIRS is not applicable. In these cases, other methods will be applied. But overall, RIRS is a very effective and beneficial treatment for kidney stones with few complications and a high recovery/success rate.