This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the association between anesthesia type and surgeon-perceived workload and surgical ergonomics in adult patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones. Patients will be classified according to the anesthesia administered during routine clinical care as general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. The choice of anesthesia will be determined by routine clinical practice and the anesthesiology team and will not be assigned by the study protocol. Surgeon workload will be assessed immediately after surgery using the Surgery Task Load Index (SURG-TLX). Perioperative outcomes, including operative time, procedural characteristics, postoperative pain, complications, and stone-free status, will also be evaluated.
Age 18 years or older
Patients scheduled for elective flexible ureteroscopy and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones
Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Pregnancy
Emergency surgery, including procedures performed for sepsis, hemodynamic instability, or urgent urinary drainage
Concomitant major surgical intervention during the same session, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy, open surgery, or laparoscopic surgery
Congenital renal anomalies or major anatomical abnormalities that may substantially affect the procedure