Speak to one of our representatives by filling the form below.
Procedure Name
Surgery Type
Hospital Stay
Duration of Surgery
Type of Anesthesia
Full Recovery
RIRS Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery is a procedure used to remove kidney stones and treat other renal disorders in a minimally invasive manner.
The term “retrograde” relates to the manner in which the surgeon approaches the kidney during the surgery (in the opposite direction of the normal flow of urine – from the urinary tract to the kidneys). The term "intrarenal" refers to the fact that the surgery takes place inside the kidney.
In this surgery, a fiber-optic endoscope, which is a tube with a camera and light source, is inserted through the urinary tract opening called the urethra into the bladder. It travels via the ureter (the tube that connects the bladder to the kidneys) to the urine-collecting part of the kidney, where it can access the stones present.
A laser fiber probe (commonly Holmium: YAG laser) breaks down (powders) the kidney stones. The larger ones are broken down into smaller fragments and removed with either forceps or other advanced instruments like stone baskets. Incredibly small particles are washed out with urine or saline irrigation.
In some cases, a stent is used to improve drainage, which may be inserted before or after surgery. Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) with stent placement is an advanced procedure performed by a urologist or someone with clinical expertise in the procedure of RIRS.
RIRS is the preferred surgical option for the treatment of kidney stones that have a size of less than 2 cm and cannot be successfully treated via other methods.
It is efficient and reliable in its use as it does not require open surgery or making any incisions on the kidney to remove the kidney stones. RIRS combines the ideal principles of ureteroscopy (examination of the upper urinary tract with a lighted viewing scope) and lithotripsy (use of shock waves to break up kidney stones) with a holmium laser (efficient for all stones with any composition) for ensuring complete removal of stones with minimal postoperative complications (retrograde intrarenal surgery with laser lithotripsy).
This procedure is used as the go-to technique in a variety of cases such as:
Fragmentation: Here, the fragments produced are removed with a stone basket - a nitinol retrieval instrument.
Dusting: Here, energy is used to reduce the stone to fine dust and fragments smaller than 2 mm in diameter that will later pass via urine.
Popcorn Effect: This is used after fragmentation to produce smaller pieces. Forceps and other advanced equipment like stone baskets can also be used to remove the fragments.
If the double J stents are placed in the ureter after the surgery, they are kept there for 7-10 days to promote healing.
Complications or risks associated with this intrarenal surgery are fairly uncommon and occur only in very few cases. Risks include:
For kidney stones RIRS is a great procedure. However, despite the many indications and advantages of RIRS, it may not be a suitable surgical option if the size of the renal stones is more than 20 mm in diameter or when several small stones are present. In such cases, kidney stones can be treated better through a different method.
Everyone desires a simple and feasible treatment for their ailments, and RIRS certainly shines as a beacon of hope in the case of kidney stones as it is a reliable and safe surgical option.
Surgery can be a daunting aspect, and feeling anxious is absolutely normal. The massive amount of information you can get from the internet may confuse you even more. This is where Medfin can help. Leave us the hefty tasks of finding the best hospital, the finest doctor, and the latest procedure at the lowest costs. Let us take charge while you sit back and focus on your health & recovery. Think surgery! Think Medfin!
Insurance Approved
05:30 PM, Wed