Background: With recent technological advancement, new and improved endoscopic instruments and laser devices have catapulted flexible ureteroscopy to the forefront, hence making retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) a popular choice for the management of renal stones. However, RIRS has also resulted in an increasing number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which can have a detrimental impact on surgeons' physical health and operative lifespan. The aim of our review is to examine the impact and feasibility of ergonomic adjustments and outline future directions and recommendations to improve the awareness of and reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries among urologists. Methods: This study was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A thorough literature review was conducted of several databases using the following keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms to generate a search strategy: nephrolithiasis, kidney calculus, renal calculus, staghorn calculus, ergonomics, position, fatigue, comfort, tire, physical strain, visual strain, muscle, ureteroscopy, RIRS, laser, and lithotripsy. Studies were chosen for inclusion by reviewers independently, and the data were consolidated for analysis. Results: A total of 1446 articles were identified on initial literature search; 23 were included in the final analysis. The impact of various ergonomic modifications on operative outcomes, surgeons, surgical equipment, and patients, was analyzed. In addition, we summarized all the improvements that resulted in better ergonomics in RIRS. Conclusion: Ergonomics in RIRS is poorly understood and there are currently no formal guidelines for this aspect. While modern endourology armamentarium seems to help with procedural ergonomics, more needs to be done to enhance surgeon comfort, protect surgeon longevity, and prioritize the health and safety of endourologists.

Objective: We aim to compare the stone-free rate (SFR), complications, and re-treatment rates in retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using a traditional suction ureteral access sheath (SUAS) with the more advanced flexible and navigable suction UAS (FANS). Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent RIRS using SUAS versus FANS across five institutions internationally as part of an audit. We analysed baseline and pre-operative characteristics such as stone location and density, intra-operative characteristics such as type of ureteroscope and laser, laser, and fluoroscopy time, as well as post-operative complications and residual fragments (RFs). Results: A total of 45 patients were included in each arm, with no significant difference in baseline characteristics. The commonest sheath size in the FANS group was 10–12 Fr (64.4%), while 11–13 Fr was preferred in SUAS (73.3%). Despite similar lasers (thulium fibre laser (TFL) and high-power holmium laser with MOSES), stone dusting (48.9%) and popcorning (95.6%) were carried out in FANS with minimal need for baskets (4.4%), while popcorning (64.4%) and basket extraction (40.0%) were required in SUAS. Although FANS had significantly longer operative times (65 minutes versus 55 minutes), it also had significantly higher rates of 100% SFR (80.0% versus 13.3%), and lower rates of clinically significant residual fragment (CSRF) (8.9% versus 53.3%), clinically insignificant residual fragment (CIRF) (11.1% versus 33.3%), and reintervention for CSRF (4.4% versus 37.8%). In addition, minor complications such as intra-operative oozing from mucosa not requiring intervention (8.9% versus 31.1%) and post-operative fever (11.1% versus 40.0%) were less common in FANS. On additional multivariate analysis, FANS was the only significant factor for higher SFR. Discussion and conclusion: The results of our study demonstrate that with its flexible and navigable tip, FANS proves advantageous over SUAS in terms of improving immediate SFR with negligible complications. By navigating the sheath into targeted individual calyces, fragments and dust are more successfully aspirated. FANS can therefore help to achieve the trifecta of high single-stage SFR, minimal minor and no major complications, and negligible reintervention rates. Level of evidence: Not applicable.

Introduction: To compare the clinical outcomes and complication rates of convective water vapor energy ablation (Rezum ^® ) and prostatic urethral lift (Urolift ^® ). To identify predictive factors for treatment failures in both treatments. Materials & Methods: Prospective clinico-epidemiological data of patients who underwent Urolift ^® or Rezum ^® in a single institution for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was collected. The choice of intervention depended on the preference of the patients after patient-centric discussions. Results: From October 2019 to October 2022, 86 patients underwent Rezum ^® , and 62 patients underwent Urolift ^® . Rezum ^® involved a longer indwelling catheter duration (12.38 ± 5.548 vs 1.39 ± 3.010 days, p < 0.001) compared with Urolift ^® . Rezum ^® was associated with more complications compared with Urolift ^® (36 [41.9%] vs 10 [16.1%] cases, p < 0.001). Rezum ^® had more cases of hematuria (17 [19.8%] vs 4 [6.5%] cases [ p = 0.022]) and urinary tract infections (27 [31.4%] vs 3 [4.8%] cases, p < 0.001) compared with Urolift ^® . There were no significant differences in Clavien–Dindo Grade 3–5 complications between the interventions. Urolift ^® was associated with higher reoperation rates (5 [8.1%] vs 0 [0%] cases, p = 0.010) compared Rezum ^® . Rezum ^® had higher anticholinergic usage rates compared with Urolift ^® post-operation (22 [25.6%] vs 8 [12.9%] cases, p = 0.024). Both interventions showed improvement in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score, and peak velocity flow over the 2 years with no significant difference between the two. Based on receiver operating characteristic curve, preoperation IPSS ≥16 had 95.7% sensitivity and 38.4% specificity to predict the probability of treatment failures after the interventions. Conclusions: There was no difference in clinical outcomes of patients who underwent Rezum ^® and Urolift ^® . However, patients who had undergone Rezum ^® faced more minor complications and more required anti-cholinergic medications. Lastly, physicians should note that patients with IPSS ≥16 would unlikely benefit from either intervention.