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Denstedt JD, Razvi HA, Sales JL, Eberwein PM. Preliminary experience with holmium: YAG laser lithotripsy. J Endourol 1995; 9: 255-258.

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Article

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS): Hiking the “Urinary Tract” in Nigeria

1Urology Division, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria


Biomedicine and Biotechnology. 2022, Vol. 7 No. 1, 1-5
DOI: 10.12691/bb-7-1-1
Copyright © 2022 Science and Education Publishing

Cite this paper:
John Edoka Raphael, Okigbeye Danagogo. Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS): Hiking the “Urinary Tract” in Nigeria. Biomedicine and Biotechnology. 2022; 7(1):1-5. doi: 10.12691/bb-7-1-1.

Correspondence to: John  Edoka Raphael, Urology Division, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Email: drraphaeljohn@gmail.com

Abstract

Rain precipitation at the top of a mountain flowing down the valley below is akin to urine formed in the kidneys flowing out through the ureters, bladder and urethra. Flexible ureterorenoscope enables endoscopic “hiking” into the kidney for intrarenal procedures. Lithotripsy is the commonest procedure during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). This study highlights RIRS with flexible ureterorenoscope and laser lithotripsy for renal calculus and describes our approach in performing this presently uncommonly procedure in our environment. We review our protocol for RIRS, including the clinical, laboratory and CT evaluation of patients presenting with renal stones for RIRS and laser lithotripsy. The counselling method and the preoperative preparation and approach were noted. The equipment and accessories were identified, along with the intraoperative techniques. We then carried out a literature review using Medline, PubMed and Google Scholars search engines and discussed our approach in light of the literature. Retrograde intrarenal surgery offers immense benefits in managing renal calculi. There is a need to improve the capacity of urologists in sub-Saharan Africa in RIRS, which, like mountain hiking, is seldom performed.

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