RIRS: A Novel Procedure to Treat Renal Stones

Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery is an endoscopic surgery performed to eliminate kidney stones. Read to know more about the procedure and it’s advantages.

Having renal stones or kidney stones is a common yet agonizing ailment. Renal stones are concentrated deposits of minerals that form in the urinary tract which cause intense pain, discomfort and malaise. A patient diagnosed with renal stones often finds difficulty, irritation, and burning sensation while urinating. Severe, piercing pain in the side and back, below the ribs is also a general symptom.

The factors causing this condition include improper and detrimental diet, unmaintained body weight, pre existing medical conditions, and use of certain medication. From kidneys to bladder, the whole of the urinary tract is vulnerable to renal stones.
 
Although tiny stones can be treated with medication and be passed through urine, larger ones necessitate surgical or non surgical procedures. The widespread procedure practiced to remove sizable renal stones is surgery. This demands anesthesia as well as incision in the body. With the advancement in technology, to avoid incisions and to treat renal stones more effectively, a novel procedure called RIRS treatment was developed. This is comparatively an innovative method in the spectrum of renal stone treatment and is minimally invasive.
 
What is RIRS?
Retrograde Intra Renal Surgery or RIRS is the latest method of kidney stone laser surgery without any incisions on the body. This is a very safe, efficient and reliable method to remove renal stones. It is an endoscopic surgery and performed through the natural orifice. The doctor uses an endoscope – a thin, flexible tube with a camera at the end of it – to get to the bladder through the urethra. The endoscope moves further to the area of urine storage in the kidney and during the process, it identifies the stones and blasts them with a laser. 
Kidney stones up to the size of 5 cm can be treated by this method. If stones are present in both kidneys, they can be treated together at the same time. The stones can be cleared well by this method.

Duration of the procedure
Duration of RIRS Surgery depends on the size of the stone. Large stones take more time, while average to normal sized stone would take around half and hour for the procedure.

Recovery time
The normal recovery time after a RIRS Surgery is one day and patients can continue their routine work after a day’s rest.

Cost
The cost of RIRS Surgery depends on multiple factors but it is definitely affordable to the normal population and is easily accessible.
 
Does the patient need to continue the medication after procedure?
Yes, definitely. After the present stone is cleared, the medications need to be continued to prevent further stone formation.
 
Advantages
Certain advantages of RIRS Surgery include:
-It is Minimally Invasive (meaning no incisions or cuts are made)
-The procedure is simple
-Patient doesn’t need to stay in the hospital for more than one day
-The recovery period is short
-Fewer complications
-No bleeding
-Both sides can be treated together
- Can be performed for both children and adults alike
- Since the procedure is done after giving Aneasthesia, the surgery is absolutely painless.

By Urology Team 

Dr. George P Abraham

HOD and Senior Consultant 

Dr. Datson George P

Senior Consultant