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Purpose: To assess retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) outcomes in children using ClearPetra, a flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS-UAS)., Methods: Children with kidney stone(s) only undergoing RIRS in 8 centers were prospectively included (September 2023-May 2024)., Exclusion Criteria: ureteral stone, bilateral procedures, anomalous kidneys, surgery for residual fragments. Lithotripsy was performed using either a Holmium or Thulium fiber laser. Postoperative pain was assessed within 24 h using a 10-point visual analogue score. The use of FANS-UAS was graded by surgeons after each case using a 5-point likert scale. Low-dose non-contrast CT scan was performed before and within 30 days of RIRS to assess residual fragments (RFs). Stone-free status was defined as no RF or single RF up to 2 mm., Results: 50 children were included. 66% were male. Mean age was 6.6 (± 3.38) years. 88% stones were < 2 cm. one-third of the patients had a stone volume > 1500mm 3 . 10-12 Fr FANS-UAS was used in 98% of the procedure. The mean operative time was 46.02 (± 20.72) minutes. 2 patients had Traxer grade1 distal ureter and 2 forniceal injuries on sheath placement. Mean pain score was 2.18 (± 1.34). Mean likert scale was 1.16 (± 0.47) for ease of suction, 1.24 (± 0.52) for manipulation, 1.02 (± 0.32) for visibility. 4 patients had post-operative fever lasting less than 24 h. No sepsis occurred. Stone-free rate was 100%., Conclusions: Our study shows that the use of FANS-UAS in paediatric RIRS is feasible and safe with a low rate of complications and excellent stone-free rate., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To analyse and report the practice, outcomes and lessons learnt from a global series of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in a paediatric multicentre series., Methods: A retrospective review of anonymized pooled data gathered globally from 8 centres in paediatric patients (≤ 18 years of age) who had renal stones and underwent RIRS from 2015 to 2020 was performed. Patient demographics, perioperative parameters, stone characteristics, complications and stone-free rate (SFR; defined as endoscopically stone free and/or residual fragments < 2 mm on follow up imaging) were analysed. The cohort was stratified into 3 groups by age: < 5 years (Group A), 5-10 years (Group B) and > 10 years (Group C). Overall, post-operative complication rate was 13.7%. Chi-square comparisons were used for categorical variables; analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for continuous variables., Results: 314 patients were analysed. The mean age was 9.54 ± 4.76 years. Groups A, B and C had 67 (21.3%), 83 (26.4%) and 164 (52.2%) patients, respectively. Mean stone size was 10.7 ± 4.62 mm. Pre-stenting was performed in 155 (49.4%) of patients, ureteral access sheaths (UAS) was used in 54.5% of patients with majority (71%) utilizing holmium laser for stone fragmentation. All complications were minor (Clavien-Dindo grade 1 and 2). SFR was 75.5%., Conclusions: RIRS is acceptable as a first-line intervention in the paediatric population with reasonable efficacy and low morbidity. Complications are slightly higher in patients < 5 years of age, which should be taken into account while counselling patients., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)