Use of a ureteral sheath during retrograde intrarenal surgery

One of the contemporary methods for treating kidney stones up to 2 cm in size is retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Advances in technology and the development of new techniques have expanded the indications for RIRS. The use of ureteral access sheaths is not mandatory; however, there are several reasons why urologists commonly employ them, including facilitating repeated and safe access to the kidney, reducing intrarenal pressure, minimizing the risk of instrument damage, and decreasing the likelihood of ureteral wall trauma during stone extraction. This literature review presents findings from studies demonstrating the safety and efficacy of ureteral access sheaths in RIRS for patients with kidney stones up to 2 cm. Parameters assessed included characteristics of the ureteral sheaths, operative time, stone-free rate, intra- and postoperative complications, as well as the impact of the sheath on the ureteral wall. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol (http://www.prisma-statement.org) applicable to this type of study (ID-423604). Articles published in international databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were analyzed.