RIRS – Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery
Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is a procedure for doing surgery within the kidney using a viewing tube called a fibrotic endoscope.
In RIRS the scope is placed through the urethra (the urinary opening) into the bladder and then through the ureter into the urine-collecting part of the kidney. The scope thus is moved retrograde (up the urinary tract system) to within the kidney (intrarenal).
RIRS is done to remove a stone. The stone is seen through the scope and can then be manipulated or crushed by an ultrasound probe or evaporated by a laser probe or grabbed by small forceps, etc.
RIRS is performed by a specialist, urologist (endourologist) with special expertise in RIRS. The procedure is usually done under general or spinal anesthesia.
- This method is generally preferred for stone size less than 20-25mm.
- Operative time and Hospitalization
The advantages of RIRS over open surgery (PCNL) include a quicker solution of the problem, elimination of prolonged pain after surgery,