Diagnosis and Treatment of Urolithiasis: Innovation, Technology and Vision

Submission Deadline: 30 September 2027 View: 72 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editor(s)

Prof. Dr. Olivier Traxer

Email: olivier.traxer@aphp.fr

Affiliation: AP-HP Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris, Paris, France

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Research Interests: Flexible ureteroscopy and retrograde intrarenal surgery; laser lithotripsy (Ho:YAG, thulium fiber laser, pulsed thulium:YAG) and laser-stone interaction; single-use and digital ureteroscopes; ureteral access sheaths and suction technologies; intrarenal pressure and temperature; percutaneous nephrolithotomy; metabolic evaluation and prevention of stone recurrence; Randall's plaque and stone morphology; kidney-sparing endoscopic management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Prof. Dr. Steeve Doizi

Email: steeve.doizi@aphp.fr

Affiliation: AP-HP Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris, Paris, France

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Research Interests: Endourological innovation and device evaluation; ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy; laser lithotripsy; metabolic evaluation and medical management of stone disease; ureteral stents and stent-related symptoms; surgical training and simulation; benign prostatic disease

Dr. Frédéric Panthier

Email: fredericpanthier@gmail.com

Affiliation: GRC Urolithiasis No. 20, Sorbonne University Tenon Hospital, Paris, France

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Research Interests: Laser physics and laser lithotripsy (thulium fiber laser, pulsed thulium:YAG, Ho:YAG pulse modulation); laser-stone interaction, dusting and ablation efficiency; ureteroscope technology and single-use devices; stone imaging and composition prediction; artificial intelligence in endourology; percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Dr. Pietro Scilipoti

Email: scilipoti.pietro@hsr.it

Affiliation: 1. Unit of Urology, Division of Experimental Oncology (URI), IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy

2. Clinical and research fellow, Endolase Lab, GRC n°20, Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France

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Research Interests: Retrograde intrarenal surgery and laser lithotripsy; flexible and navigable suction sheaths and intrarenal pressure; artificial intelligence for stone composition prediction; ergonomics and musculoskeletal health of endourologists; systematic reviews and meta-analyses in endourology; kidney-sparing management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Dr. Federico Zorzi

Email: federicozorzi94@gmail.com

Affiliation: 1. Urology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

2. Clinical and research fellow, Endolase Lab, GRC n°20, Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France

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Research Interests: Pulsed thulium:YAG and thulium fiber laser lithotripsy; in vitro laser-stone interaction and ureteroscopy simulation platforms; intrarenal pressure and temperature during ureteroscopy; shock wave lithotripsy; steinstrasse and complications of stone treatment; artificial intelligence for stone composition prediction

Summary

Urolithiasis affects roughly one in ten people during their lifetime, its incidence keeps rising worldwide alongside obesity, diabetes and climate change, and up to half of patients experience recurrence within ten years. The past decade has transformed both the diagnosis and the treatment of stone disease: low-dose and dual-energy computed tomography, artificial intelligence applied to imaging and stone composition, structured metabolic evaluation and tailored prevention, and a rapid succession of endourological innovations, including single-use digital ureteroscopes, flexible and navigable suction sheaths, miniaturised and suction-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and new laser sources such as the thulium fiber laser and the pulsed thulium:YAG laser. Many of these technologies have been adopted faster than the evidence supporting them, and important questions remain regarding intrarenal pressure and temperature, infectious complications, cost, environmental sustainability and training.

This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality original research, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and expert reviews that critically evaluate contemporary diagnostic pathways and treatment strategies for urolithiasis, seen through innovation, digitalisation and technological development, across the full spectrum of care, from first presentation to recurrence prevention. Contributions that combine clinical outcomes with laboratory, engineering or health-economic perspectives are particularly welcome.

Suggested themes:
1. Epidemiology, risk factors and recurrence prevention: metabolic evaluation, diet, pharmacological therapy and chemolysis
2. Imaging and diagnosis: low-dose and dual-energy CT, ultrasound, radiation protection, and artificial intelligence for stone detection, composition prediction and treatment planning
3. Acute renal colic: medical expulsive therapy, prediction of spontaneous passage, emergency drainage and sepsis
4. Shock wave lithotripsy: patient selection, imaging guidance and technique refinements
5. Ureteroscopy and retrograde intrarenal surgery: single-use versus reusable scopes, ureteral access sheaths, suction technologies, intrarenal pressure and temperature
6. Laser lithotripsy: Ho:YAG with pulse modulation, thulium fiber laser, pulsed thulium:YAG, dusting versus fragmentation, laser safety and laser-stone interaction
7. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: miniaturisation, suction sheaths, supine and prone positioning, and endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery
8. Complications and their prevention: infection and sepsis, ureteral injury and stricture, stent-related symptoms
9. Special populations: children, pregnancy, older patients, anatomical anomalies, cystinuria, solitary and transplanted kidneys
10. Training, simulation, ergonomics, environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness of stone treatment

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