Is physical therapy effective following extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and retrograde intrarenal surgery: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Management of urinary stones: state of the art and future perspectives by experts in stone disease

AIM

To present state of the art on the management of urinary stones from a panel of globally recognized urolithiasis experts who met during the Experts in Stone Disease Congress in Valencia in January 2024. Options of treatment: The surgical treatment modalities of renal and ureteral stones are well defined by the guidelines of international societies, although for some index cases more alternative options are possible. For 1.5 cm renal stones, both m-PCNL and RIRS have proven to be valid treatment alternatives with comparable stone-free rates. The m-PCNL has proven to be more cost effective and requires a shorter operative time, while the RIRS has demonstrated lower morbidity in terms of blood loss and shorter recovery times. SWL has proven to be less effective at least for lower calyceal stones but has the highest safety profile. For a 6mm obstructing stone of the pelviureteric junction (PUJ) stone, SWL should be the first choice for a stone less than 1 cm, due to less invasiveness and lower risk of complications although it has a lower stone free-rate. RIRS has advantages in certain conditions such as anticoagulant treatment, obesity, or body deformity. Technical issues of the surgical procedures for stone removal: In patients receiving antithrombotic therapy, SWL, PCN and open surgery are at elevated risk of hemorrhage or perinephric hematoma. URS, is associated with less morbidity in these cases. An individualized combined evaluation of risks of bleeding and thromboembolism should determine the perioperative thromboprophylactic strategy. Pre-interventional urine culture and antibiotic therapy are mandatory although UTI treatment is becoming more challenging due to increasing resistance to routinely applied antibiotics. The use of an intrarenal urine culture and stone culture is recommended to adapt antibiotic therapy in case of postoperative infectious complications. Measurements of temperature and pressure during RIRS are vital for ensuring patient safety and optimizing surgical outcomes although techniques of measurements and methods for data analysis are still to be refined. Ureteral stents were improved by the development of new biomaterials, new coatings, and new stent designs. Topics of current research are the development of drug eluting and bioresorbable stents. Complications of endoscopic treatment: PCNL is considered the most invasive surgical option. Fever and sepsis were observed in 11 and 0.5% and need for transfusion and embolization for bleeding in 7 and 0.4%. Major complications, as colonic, splenic, liver, gall bladder and bowel injuries are quite rare but are associated with significant morbidity. Ureteroscopy causes less complications, although some of them can be severe. They depend on high pressure in the urinary tract (sepsis or renal bleeding) or application of excessive force to the urinary tract (ureteral avulsion or stricture). Diagnostic work up:  Genetic testing consents the diagnosis of monogenetic conditions causing stones. It should be carried out in children and in selected adults. In adults, monogenetic diseases can be diagnosed by systematic genetic testing in no more than 4%, when cystinuria, APRT deficiency, and xanthinuria are excluded. A reliable stone analysis by infrared spectroscopy or X-ray diffraction is mandatory and should be associated to examination of the stone under a stereomicroscope. The analysis of digital images of stones by deep convolutional neural networks in dry laboratory or during endoscopic examination could allow the classification of stones based on their color and texture. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in association with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) is another fundamental research tool for the study of kidney stones. The combination of metagenomic analysis using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques and the enhanced quantitative urine culture (EQUC) protocol can be used to evaluate the urobiome of renal stone formers. Twenty-four hour urine analysis has a place during patient evaluation together with repeated measurements of urinary pH with a digital pH meter. Urinary supersaturation is the most comprehensive physicochemical risk factor employed in urolithiasis research. Urinary macromolecules can act as both promoters or inhibitors of stone formation depending on the chemical composition of urine in which they are operating. At the moment, there are no clinical applications of macromolecules in stone management or prophylaxis. Patients should be evaluated for the association with systemic pathologies.

PROPHYLAXIS

Personalized medicine and public health interventions are complementary to prevent stone recurrence. Personalized medicine addresses a small part of stone patients with a high risk of recurrence and systemic complications requiring specific dietary and pharmacological treatment to prevent stone recurrence and complications of associated systemic diseases. The more numerous subjects who form one or a few stones during their entire lifespan should be treated by modifications of diet and lifestyle. Primary prevention by public health interventions is advisable to reduce prevalence of stones in the general population. Renal stone formers at "high-risk" for recurrence need early diagnosis to start specific treatment. Stone analysis allows the identification of most "high-risk" patients forming non-calcium stones: infection stones (struvite), uric acid and urates, cystine and other rare stones (dihydroxyadenine, xanthine). Patients at "high-risk" forming calcium stones require a more difficult diagnosis by clinical and laboratory evaluation. Particularly, patients with cystinuria and primary hyperoxaluria should be actively searched.

FUTURE RESEARCH

Application of Artificial Intelligence are promising for automated identification of ureteral stones on CT imaging, prediction of stone composition and 24-hour urinary risk factors by demographics and clinical parameters, assessment of stone composition by evaluation of endoscopic images and prediction of outcomes of stone treatments. The synergy between urologists, nephrologists, and scientists in basic kidney stone research will enhance the depth and breadth of investigations, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of kidney stone formation.

SLAP Trial: Shock Wave Lithotripsy and Mechanical Percussion Therapy Post ESWL for Renal Calculi

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomised control trial. Included patients were males and females greater than 18 years of age with single or multiple ipsilateral renal calculi of total ≤10 mm on plain X-ray and noncontrast CT KUB. ESWL was performed at a single centre, at supine position under general anaesthesia with maximum 3000 shocks at a rate of 100 shocks per minute. Patients were discharged and randomised to either the control arm or MPI therapy. MPI therapy was self-directed in a home setting for 10 minutes a day, three times per week. Both arms had standard follow-up at 12 weeks with a plain X-ray KUB. Patients in the control group were offered cross over to the MPI arm after 12 weeks if residual stone fragments were detected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software via Chi squared and Fisher's exact tests. Ethical approval was obtained via the Prince Charles Hospital HREC Committee, HREC/2022/QPCH/84961.

Results

70 patients met inclusion criteria and underwent ESWL, and 5 were withdrawn. 33 patients were randomised to the MPI group and 32 to the control group. MPI significantly increased the stone clearance rate anywhere in the kidney (87.9% in the MPI group versus 59.4% in the control group, p=0.089), as well as the clearance rate in the lower pole (91.7% in the MPI group versus 63.2% in the control group, p=0.022). Delayed percussion did not improve the clearance rate over primary percussion (p=0.835).

Conclusion

This study has shown that MPI can be effectively performed in a home setting without the need for medical supervision and results in improved stone clearance rates post ESWL. The main limitations to the study were the use of X-ray over CT during the follow-up and variability in MPI compliance and administration. Further research is warranted into standardising home MPI protocols. This trial is registered with ANZCTR387061.

Physical Techniques to Remove Residual Stone Fragments in the Urinary System

BACKGROUND

Although significant progress has been made in treatment techniques for renal and ureteral calculi, residual fragments (RF) persisting long after treatment pose a serious threat to patients' health. A variety of novel physical techniques and extraction devices are currently being developed to promote the removal of RF from the urinary system, and a series of in vivo experiments have demonstrated their safety and efficacy.

SUMMARY

External physical vibration lithecbole, magnetic extraction, biocompatible stone adhesive-based methods, and ultrasonic propulsion technologies are examples of innovative therapies that can promote the clearance of RF and improve the stone-free rate. In conclusion, the physical treatment of these RF needs to be optimized and improved. They are a promising technique for improving the efficiency of endovascular urology, and further in vivo studies are needed to confirm their safety and efficacy.

KEY MESSAGES

We have summarized the literature on removal of RF by physical methods in recent years, especially the new progress.

2022 Recommendations of the AFU Lithiasis Committee: Postural therapy

Postural therapy is a postural procedure to fight against the gravity phenomenon responsible for the non-elimination of lower calyceal stones. It allows improving or accelerating their expulsion and it increases the stone-free rate. This procedure associates forced diuresis, postural inversion, and lumbar percussion. It allows a 50% improvement and an acceleration of fragment elimination. Despite its positive impact, postural therapy remains under-used. These are the first practical recommendations on postural therapy. METHODOLOGY: These recommendations were developed using two methods: the Clinical Practice Recommendation (CPR) method and the ADAPTE method, depending on whether the question was considered in the European Association of Urology (EAU) recommendations (https://uroweb.org/guidelines/urolithiasis) [EAU Guidelines on urolithiasis. 2022] and whether they were adaptable to the French context.

International Alliance of Urolithiasis Guideline on Shockwave Lithotripsy

Different international associations have proposed their own guidelines on urolithiasis. However, the focus is primarily on an overview of the principles of urolithiasis management rather than step-by-step technical details for the procedure. The International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) is releasing a series of guidelines on the management of urolithiasis. The current guideline on shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is the third in the IAU guidelines series and provides a clinical framework for urologists and technicians performing SWL. A total of 49 recommendations are summarized and graded, covering the following aspects: indications and contraindications; preoperative patient evaluation; preoperative medication; prestenting; intraoperative analgesia or anesthesia; intraoperative position; stone localization and monitoring; machine and energy settings; intraoperative lithotripsy strategies; auxiliary therapy following SWL; evaluation of stone clearance; complications; and quality of life. The recommendations, tips, and tricks regarding SWL procedures summarized here provide important and necessary guidance for urologists along with technicians performing SWL. PATIENT SUMMARY: For kidney and urinary stones of less than 20 mm in size, shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is an approach in which the stone is treated with shockwaves applied to the skin, without the need for surgery. Our recommendations on technical aspects of the procedure provide guidance for urologists and technicians performing SWL.

A Systematic Review on Spinal Asymmetries in Case Studies of Unilateral Nephroptosis from a Viscerosomatic Point of View

The assessment of posture and asymmetries is common in musculoskeletal clinical practice, and correction is a frequent goal. In this setting, posture and asymmetries are usually interpreted in terms of musculoskeletal issues. This study aimed to evaluate spinal asymmetries in case studies of unilateral nephroptosis. A systematic review was performed using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. We included case reports and case series of nephroptotic patients which showed diagnostic imaging that allowed us to assess the presence of spinal asymmetries in the frontal plane. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed by using Case Report (CARE) checklist. Nineteen studies were included, with a total number of 78 reported patients (69 women) ranging 22 to 44 years old (mean: 29). Only one patient presented with medial nephroptosis, while the rest presented with caudal migration. Ninety-one percent of the cases affected to the right kidney. All cases but two showed homolateral flank closure (lower rib descent, iliac crest raise and/or homolateral side-bending). The correction of nephroptosis, either by supine position or surgical treatment, removed asymmetries in some cases while other cases improved only partly. Manual therapists must consider visceral implications while assessing body posture. Further, since the most common symptom of nephroptosis is loin pain, and it has been claimed that loin pain is underdiagnosed, manual therapists should consider its potential presence during clinical practice. Finally, being that nephroptosis shares several features with idiopathic lumbar scoliosis (type of patient, postural adaptation), more research is needed regarding any possible relation between them.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery in lateral position for lower pole stone: an initial experience from Single Academic Hospital

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) was generally challenging in management of lower pole stone (LPS) since the unfavorable anatomy. Theoretically, LPS was prone to fall out and down to renal pelvis when patients turned to lateral position, thus to facilitate lithotripsy. The aim of the present study was to report our initial experience of RIRS in lateral position for LPS. From January 2020 to February 2021, 21 patients with LPS received RIRS in lateral position. The intraoperative finding, operation time, complications and stone-free rate (SFR) were recorded and analyzed. The mean stone size was 16.7 ± 2.4 mm, multiple stones in lower pole were noted in 38.1% (8/21) cases. The mean infundibular-pelvic angle (IPA) was 35.2 ± 6.9°, IPA less than 30° was noted in six cases (28.6%, 6/21). Mean operation time was 43.5 ± 6.3 min. Obvious stone fragments dropping from the lower calyx to renal pelvis during the lithotripsy were noted in 17 cases (81.0%). Only one case (4.8%) suffered postoperative fever (Clavien I), no severe complication (> Clavien II) was noted. Hospital stay was 1.1 ± 0.3 days, the SFR in postoperative 1 month was 85.7%. LPS was prone to fall out and down to renal pelvis when patients in lateral position, thus to facilitate the lithotripsy. RIRS in lateral position was feasible for the management of LPS; however, RCT with large sample was required to certify our initial finding.

Risk factors for urinary infection after retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy: Implication for nursing

There are needs to evaluate the risk factors for urinary infection after retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy, to provide insights into the management and nursing care of patients with retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy.Patients who received retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy with a Foley 20 urinary tube insertion from June 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 in our hospital were selected. Patients were grouped urinary infection and no infection group according to the culture results of urine, and the clinical data of the 2 groups of patients were collected and compared. Single factor and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of urinary tract infection after retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy.Four hundred ten patients with retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy were included, of whom 62 patients had the urinary tract infection, the incidence of urinary tract infection was 15.12%. There were significant differences in the gender, age, diabetes, stone diameter, duration of urinary tube insertion and duration of surgery between infection and no-infection group (all P < .05). The Escherichia coli (62.90%) was the most commonly seen bacterial in patients with urinary tract infection. Female (odds ratio [OR]: 1.602, 95% confidence interval 95% [CI]: 1.132∼2.472), age >50 years (OR: 2.247, 95% CI: 1.346∼3.244), diabetes (OR: 2.228, 95% CI: 1.033∼3.451), stone diameter ≥2 cm (OR: 2.152, 95% CI: 1.395∼3.099), duration of urinary tube insertion ≥3 days (OR: 1.942, 95% CI:1.158∼2.632), duration of surgery ≥90 minutes (OR: 2.128, 95% CI: 1.104∼3.846) were the independent risk factors for the postoperative urinary tract infection in patients with retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy (all P < .05).The incidence of urinary tract infection in patients undergoing retrograde upper urinary lithotripsy was high, counteractive measures targeted on those risk factors are needed to prevent and reduce the postoperative urinary infection in clinical settings.

The effectiveness and safety of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the management of kidney stones: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) has gained worldwide popularity as one of the most commonly used minimally invasive management of urinary tract stones. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESWL for patients with kidney stones (KS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This protocol established in this study has been reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Knowledge Network Database (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database were searched for case-control studies in ESWL treating patients with KS until July 1, 2020. We will use a combination of Medical Subject Heading and free-text terms with various synonyms to search based on the Eligibility criteria. Two investigators independently reviewed the included studies and extracted relevant data. The relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effect estimate. I test, substantial heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment will be performed accordingly. Stata 14.0 and Review Manger 5.3 are used for a meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

CONCLUSION

The results of this review will be widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. This evidence may also provide helpful evidence of the efficacy and safety of ESWL treating patients with KS.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019157243.