A Prospective, Randomized, Noninferiority Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Steerable Ureteroscopic Renal Evacuation Compared with Standard Ureteroscopy: 30-Day Results of the ASPIRE Study

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> We report the first multicenter, prospective, randomized noninferiority controlled trial of steerable ureteroscopic renal evacuation (SURE) for nephrolithiasis treatment. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Candidates for laser lithotripsy ≥18 years with ≥1 renal stone ≥7 mm and 7-20 mm stone burden were randomized 1:1 SURE <i>vs</i> ureteroscopy (URS). SURE was performed using the CVAC Aspiration System, a novel steerable irrigation-aspiration catheter. The primary efficacy end point was noninferiority in stone-free rate (SFR) based on zero residual fragments (RFs) 30 days postprocedure on noncontrast computed tomography. Secondary end points were superiority tests, stone clearance (percent stone volume reduction), residual stone volume (RSV), SFR (no RF >2 mm), and SFR (no RF >4 mm) 30 days postprocedure. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the subjects, 123 were randomized and 101 qualified for efficacy analysis (SURE 46 <i>vs</i> URS 55). Despite randomization, baseline URS stone volume was higher (SURE 485.0 ± 432.5 mm³ <i>vs</i> URS 713.3 ± 558.5 mm³). The primary noninferiority end point was achieved (SURE SFR 48% <i>vs</i> URS SFR 49%, <i>p</i> = 0.027, -1.3% [90% confidence interval; -18%, 15%]). Stone clearance was significantly higher for SURE <i>vs</i> URS subjects (SURE 96.9 ± 5.6% <i>vs</i> URS 92.9 ± 11.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.036); RSV was significantly lower (SURE 14.3 ± 3 0.9 mm³ <i>vs</i> URS 70.2 ± 144.9 mm³, <i>p</i> = 0.012). SURE stone clearance and RSV were independent of baseline stone volume, but for URS degraded with increasing baseline stone volume. Safety was comparable between groups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> SFR for SURE subjects was noninferior compared with URS subjects; stone clearance and RSV were significantly better with SURE, independent of baseline stone volume.