Nephrolithiasis

Post-operative pain and lower urinary tract symptoms are common following ureteroscopy in the treatment of stone disease. The use of bupivacaine as a topical pain medication is used routinely for other urologic procedures, however, to date there are no studies that have rigorously investigated the effect of instilling bupivacaine in the bladder following ureteroscopy. This is a randomized study that will investigate the effect of instilling bupivacaine in the bladder following routine ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy and ureteral stenting in the treatment of stone disease. Compared to a placebo of Normal Saline, our study hypothesizes that administration of topical bupivacaine in the bladder will decrease post-operative pain and lower urinary tract symptoms while improving quality of life in the early post-operative period.

The goal of this clinical trial study is to test if patients with idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stones have an increased absorption of dietary oxalate, which would lead to increased urinary excretion of oxalate. The study will recruit adult patients with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones and healthy volunteers without kidney stones. Participants will * ingest fixed diets containing low and moderately high amounts of oxalate for 5 days at a time * ingest a soluble form of oxalate and sugar preparations to test gut permeability * collect urine, blood, stool and breath sample during the fixed diets and the soluble oxalate test

The goal of this trial is to test if colonization with the gut bacteria Oxalobacter formigenes leads to a reduction in urinary oxalate excretion in patients with calcium oxalate kidney stone disease. The study will recruit adult participants with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones who are not colonized with Oxalobacter formigenes. Participants will * ingest fixed diets containing low and moderately high amounts of oxalate for 4 days at a time * collect urine, blood and stool samples during the fixed diets * ingest a preparation of live Oxalobacter formigenes to induce colonization with Oxalobacter formigenes

This study tests whether an artificial intelligence (AI) tool helps radiologists read X-rays more accurately. Radiologists read X-rays to find diseases such as pneumonia, bone fractures, and abdominal problems. AI is a computer program trained on many past X-rays. It may help radiologists spot diseases faster and more correctly. This study compares reading X-rays with the AI tool to reading X-rays without it. Who takes part * Ten radiologists from several hospitals. * X-ray images from about 300 to 500 past hospital visits. * No new X-rays are taken. * All names and ID numbers are removed from the images. What happens * Each radiologist reads the same set of X-rays twice. * One time, the radiologist reads without the AI tool. * The other time, the radiologist can see the AI result. * Half start with no AI and then switch to AI. The other half start with AI and then switch to no AI. * There is a four-week break between the two times. * The researchers measure how accurate each radiologist is. They also time how long each image takes. Possible benefits and risks * The radiologists may get no direct personal benefit. * The results may show whether AI can help doctors read X-rays better in the future. * This is a low-risk study. The AI tool never tells a patient a diagnosis directly. * A qualified radiologist always makes the final diagnosis. * Patient data is stored on a locked, encrypted server.

The goal of this observational study is to compare conventional and suction (aspiration) ureteral access sheaths used during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in adults with kidney stones. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the use of a suction ureteral access sheath increase the stone-free rate compared with a conventional sheath? * Does the use of a suction sheath reduce operative time and complications such as postoperative fever and infection? Researchers will compare patients treated with a conventional ureteral access sheath with patients treated with a suction ureteral access sheath during routine RIRS. Participants will: * Undergo RIRS for kidney stones as part of their routine clinical care * Have their surgical data recorded, including operative time and any complications * Attend routine follow-up visits, including imaging to assess whether stones remain

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to remove large or complex kidney stones. Although effective, dilation of the surgical tract and the placement of a nephrostomy tube cause significant postoperative pain. Conventional general anesthesia relies heavily on opioid medications (such as fentanyl) for pain control; however, opioids can cause unwanted side effects, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sedation, and delayed bowel recovery. The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate whether an opioid-sparing general anesthesia protocol utilizing a combination of low-dose ketamine and dexmedetomidine improves overall postoperative quality of recovery in adult patients undergoing PCNL compared with standard opioid-based anesthesia. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: * Conventional Opioid-Based Group: Participants receive standard general anesthesia supplemented with intravenous fentanyl before induction and as needed during surgery to manage pain. * Ketamine-Dexmedetomidine Group: Participants receive general anesthesia combined with an initial dose and continuous low-dose intravenous infusion of ketamine and dexmedetomidine throughout the surgery. Following surgery, all participants will receive scheduled intravenous paracetamol, with rescue opioid pain medication (nalbuphine) available if pain levels reach a moderate-to-severe threshold. The primary outcome of the study is the patient-reported Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score at 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include total intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative pain scores at rest and during movement, time to first rescue pain medication, anesthesia emergence and recovery times, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and potential side effects.

Tissue Sensor (TS) is a technology designed to automatically deactivate laser emission when contact between the laser fiber and tissue is detected. It is hypothesized that the use of TS during contact laser ureterolithotripsy may reduce unintended laser exposure of the ureteral mucosa, thereby decreasing the risk of immediate thermal injury to the ureteral wall and subsequent scar-related narrowing. To reduce the influence of baseline risk factors for stricture, the study will enroll a homogeneous population of patients without urinary tract anomalies, previous surgery on the study ureter, or impacted stones. The procedure will be performed according to a standardized protocol using a semirigid ureteroscope, a thulium fiber laser, and predefined technical restrictions. The study is limited to patients with stones in the mid or distal ureter. This approach is intended to minimize the likelihood of stone retropulsion into the kidney, standardize the surgical technique, reduce the need for conversion to flexible ureteroscopy, and maximize comparability between the study groups.

This study evaluates whether a single dose of anrikefon, given intravenously shortly before the end of kidney stone removal surgery (PCNL), can reduce opioid-related side effects such as nausea, vomiting, itching, oversedation, and breathing problems in the first 24 hours after surgery. All participants receive the same standard pain control regimen (flurbiprofen axetil plus a sufentanil patient-controlled pump). In addition, half receive anrikefon and half receive a placebo (saline), decided by random allocation, with neither patients nor doctors knowing who receives which. A total of 160 adults (18-75 years) undergoing elective PCNL at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital will take part. Pain scores, opioid use, recovery, satisfaction, kidney function and side effects will be followed for up to 3 days after surgery.

This is a prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of a hemostatic agent on tract-related bleeding during percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Patients undergoing standardized PCNL will be randomized to receive either application of a hemostatic agent or no agent during tract closure, following uniform balloon occlusion, complete aspiration, and irrigation-free endoscopic assessment. The researchers hypothesize that adjunctive hemostatic agent use reduces perioperative hemoglobin decline compared with balloon tamponade alone and improves tract-related hemostasis outcomes.

The aims of the Observational Approach versus Surgical Intervention for Asymptomatic Stone (OASIS) trial are: 1) to determine whether observation compared to upfront surgery results in less healthcare-related life disruption due to kidney stones among children and adults with asymptomatic kidney stones; 2) to identify the groups benefiting the most from each strategy; and 3) to determine the preferences and values informing the choice between observation and upfront surgery.

This prospective, randomized, single-blinded, non-inferiority clinical trial will compare the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of two mini-flexible ureteroscopes (6.3Fr and 7.5Fr) used during flexible ureteroscopy for the treatment of renal stones. Adult patients with renal stones up to 15 mm who are scheduled to undergo flexible ureteroscopy will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups. The primary objectives are to compare stone-free rates and the ability to achieve primary renal access without preoperative ureteral stenting. Secondary outcomes include operative time, fluoroscopy use, ureteral trauma, postoperative stenting, pain, complications, emergency department visits, need for additional procedures, hospital stay, and cost-effectiveness. The results of this study are expected to provide high-quality evidence to guide the selection of mini-flexible ureteroscopes and improve the quality, safety, and value of surgical care for patients with kidney stones.

The goal of this clinical trial study is to test if patients with idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stones have an increased production of oxalate by the body, which would lead to increased urinary excretion of oxalate. The study will recruit adult patients with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones and healthy volunteers without kidney stones. Participants will ingest fixed diets containing low amounts of oxalate for 5 days ingest a soluble form of glycolate and vitamin C collect urine, blood, stool during the dietary and oral dosing portions of the study and also collect breath sample during the oral glycolate test

The aim of the study is to establish an infectious risk stratification system based on pre-and post-operative blood endotoxin profile.

This prospective randomized controlled study will compare two techniques used after percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a procedure for removing kidney stones. Participants with renal stones measuring 2-3 cm will be randomly assigned to either tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy with nebulized Glubran 2 used to seal the access tract or conventional percutaneous nephrolithotomy with placement of a nephrostomy tube. The study will evaluate whether the Glubran 2-assisted tubeless technique is safe and effective and whether it can reduce postoperative pain, bleeding, hospital stay, urine leakage, and other complications while maintaining a satisfactory stone-free rate.

A single-arm, multicenter, international, prospective interventional study designed to evaluate the safety and performance of an investigational device during retrograde intrarenal surgery for the treatment of renal calculi.

The aim of this randomized trial with a 2-by-2 factorial design is to test the efficacy of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin and personalized dietary counseling based on 24-hr urine collection results and dietary assessments for kidney stone recurrence prevention in patients with calcium kidney stones. Study interventions: * Empagliflozin 10 mg once daily per os for 36 months * Personalized dietary counseling for 36 months. Control interventions: * Placebo once daily per os for 36 months * Generic dietary counseling for 36 months.

This randomized clinical trial will compare four ventilation strategies during retrograde intrarenal surgery performed under general anesthesia. The study aims to determine whether reducing respiratory-related kidney movement improves surgical success and decreases perioperative complications. Eighty adult patients will be randomly assigned to standard ventilation, hypoventilation, intermittent apnea ventilation, or one-lung ventilation. Surgical outcomes and perioperative complications will be compared between groups.

This research study is being conducted to assess the ability and efficiency of two laser systems to break up kidney stones during ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for kidney stone treatment.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy and safety of a Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath (FANS) versus a standard ureteral access sheath during flexible ureterorenoscopy (FURS) in pediatric patients with renal stones less than 2 cm. The study will evaluate stone-free rates. operative time. intraoperative parameters. operative and postoperative complication and the need for any auxiliary procedures. Sixty pediatric patients will be randomly allocated into two equal groups and treated at the Urology Department, Tanta University.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the ClearPetra ureteral access sheath (Coloplast) is more effective than the Navigator ureteral access sheath (Boston Scientific) in treating intrarenal kidney stones of 1-3 cm in adult patients undergoing flexible ureteroscopy (RIRS). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ClearPetra achieve a higher stone-free rate at 1 month post-intervention compared to Navigator, as assessed by non-contrast abdominal-pelvic CT scan? Does ClearPetra reduce total surgical time compared to Navigator? Does ClearPetra lower the retreatment rate at 3 months compared to Navigator? Does ClearPetra present a rate of clinically significant complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ II) that is lower than or similar to Navigator? Researchers will compare flexible ureteroscopy using the ClearPetra vacuum-assisted flexible ureteral access sheath to flexible ureteroscopy using the Navigator standard rigid ureteral access sheath, to see if ClearPetra leads to higher stone clearance rates while maintaining a comparable safety profile. Participants will: Undergo flexible ureteroscopy (RIRS) using one of two randomly assigned ureteral access sheaths (ClearPetra or Navigator), determined by computer-generated randomization immediately before surgery Have a non-contrast abdominal-pelvic CT scan at 1 month post-intervention to assess stone-free status Have a non-contrast abdominal-pelvic CT scan at 3 months post-intervention to evaluate residual fragments and the need for retreatment Attend follow-up visits at 1 month and 3 months post-surgery for clinical assessment and complication recording The study will be conducted at the Urology Department of Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (Seville, Spain), a tertiary reference centre. A total of 156 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio (78 per group), with pre-defined subgroup analyses stratified by stone size (1-2 cm vs. \>2 cm). The outcome assessor evaluating CT images for stone-free rate will be blinded to treatment allocation (single-blind).

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the safety, cost-effectiveness, and patient recovery of two different surgical positions for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in adults aged 18 to 70 years who have kidney stones larger than 2 cm. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the supine (lying on the back) surgical position result in fewer early postoperative complications than the traditional prone (lying on the stomach) position? * Does the supine position reduce the total surgery time, direct hospital costs, and postoperative pain? Researchers will compare patients assigned to undergo PCNL in the supine position to those assigned to the prone position to see if the supine approach offers a safer, more cost-effective, and more comfortable recovery. Participants will: * Undergo standard PCNL surgery to remove their kidney stones in either the supine or prone position. * Have their pain levels, surgery time, and any early surgical complications monitored during their hospital stay. * Complete brief questionnaires regarding their overall surgical satisfaction and quality of life at 1 month and 3 months after the procedure.

Mini percutaneous nephrolithotripsy is the treatment of choice for kidney stones over 2cm. This procedure commonly uses laser energy for breaking the stones, and among possible laser platforms, Hoyag and thulium fiber laser are FDA approved. Recently, this procedure has also included the use of vacuum assisted renal access sheaths, which allows suction to be employed together with the breaking of stones. This study intends to compare outcomes when using either laser platforms with suction sheaths in participants undergoing mini percutaneous nephrolithotripsy for the treatment of kidney stones.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the influence of real-time intrarenal pressure measurement availability on surgeons' behavior during ureteroscopy while using the ureteroscope LithoVue Elite.

This is a single-arm, pretest-posttest study evaluating the effects of a 21-day comprehensive spa care (Komplexní lázeňská léčebně rehabilitační péče, KLP) on patients with nephrological and urological conditions treated at a spa facility in Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic. The study enrolls 150 adult patients (75 men and 75 women), aged 40-70 years, who are prescribed KLP for indications VIII/1 (recurrent and chronic non-tuberculous inflammation of the kidneys and urinary tract), VIII/2 (nephrolithiasis without urinary tract obstruction, nephrocalcinosis), VIII/3 (conditions after kidney and urinary tract surgery), and VIII/4 (chronic prostatitis or prostatovesiculitis resistant to pharmacological treatment). The spa treatment consists of the use of natural healing resources of Mariánské Lázně, including a mineral spring drinking cure, balneotherapy (mineral water baths), peloid therapy, carbon dioxide therapy, climatotherapy, exercise therapy, and dietotherapy. The standard treatment duration is 21 days, during which each patient receives a total of 63 therapeutic procedures and drinks mineral spring water three times daily. Patients undergo assessments at the beginning (days 1-3) and at the end (days 19-21) of their treatment. Assessments include physical examination, abdominal and urinary tract ultrasound, blood and urine sampling with laboratory analysis, body composition measurement using bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody), and psychometric questionnaire surveys. The primary aim of the study is to objectively assess the therapeutic effect of comprehensive spa care on nephrological and urological diseases by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment clinical, laboratory, and patient-reported outcomes. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen (decision of November 2, 2023, ref. no. 437/23).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether actively suctioning the renal collecting system to induce a "collapse" state at the end of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) can reduce postoperative pain and infection in patients with kidney stones. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (suction-induced collapse) or the control group (standard drainage). The study aims to determine if this simple surgical modification can improve early recovery outcomes and patient satisfaction.