@Article{,
AUTHOR = {Guido Giusti, Silvia Proietti, Lorenzo G. Luciani, 
Roberto Peschechera, Antonella Giannantoni, 
Gianluigi Taverna, Giuseppe Sortino, Pierpaolo Graziotti},
TITLE = {Is retrograde intrarenal surgery for the treatment of renal stones with diameters exceeding 2 cm still a hazard?},
JOURNAL = {Canadian Journal of Urology},
VOLUME = {21},
YEAR = {2014},
NUMBER = {2},
PAGES = {7207--7212},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/CJU/v21n2/61503},
ISSN = {1488-5581},
ABSTRACT = {<b>Introduction:</b> Major kidney stones have traditionally been treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. However, retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS), which until a few years ago was considered inappropriate for this purpose, is becoming a viable, attractive alternative. The aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy and safety of RIRS combined with holmium laser lithotripsy for the treatment of stones >2 cm in diameter in a large series of patients, reporting complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.
<br/>
<b>Materials and methods:</b> By retrospective analysis, we identified a total of 162 patients who were affected by stones greater than 2 cm in diameter and who had undergone RIRS. We reviewed demographic and stone characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, and complications.
<br/>
<b>Results:</b> The mean stone size was 2.7 cm ± 0.6 cm. The primary, secondary, and tertiary stone-free rates were 66%, 80.9%, and 87.7%, respectively. The mean number of procedures per patient was 1.48. The complication rates according to the Clavien-Dindo classification were Clavien I in 20.4% of patients, Clavien II in 0%, Clavien III in 4.9%, Clavien IV in 0.6%, and Clavien V in 0%.
<br/>
<b>Conclusions:</b> As an alternative to standard procedures for the treatment of renal calculi greater than 2 cm in diameter, RIRS is safe and effective, with a low complication rate.},
DOI = {}
}