Innovations in Flexible Ureterorenoscopy for Renal Stones | Chapter 6 | Newer Frontiers in Urology, Volume II

 

Background: Flexible ureterorenoscopy (fURS) has become a cornerstone in the minimally invasive management of renal stone disease. Continuous technological evolution over the past decades has expanded its indications, improved procedural safety, and enhanced stone-free outcomes. This review synthesises recent innovations that have reshaped contemporary fURS practice.

 

Objective: To critically appraise key technological and procedural advances in flexible ureterorenoscopy, with emphasis on scope design, laser lithotripsy, adjunctive instrumentation, and emerging guidance and robotic systems, and to evaluate their clinical impact on renal stone management.

 

Methods: A narrative review was conducted based on historical milestones, recent clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing innovations in fURS. Developments in digital and single-use ureteroscopes, laser technologies, ureteral access sheaths, irrigation and pressure-control systems, image guidance, and robotic assistance were analysed with respect to efficacy, safety, and workflow implications.

 

Results: Major advancements include the transition to high-definition digital “chip-on-tip” ureteroscopes, the widespread adoption of single-use disposable scopes, and enhanced deflection mechanisms that improve access to complex calyceal anatomy. Laser innovations, particularly thulium fibre lasers and pulse-modulated holmium systems, have increased fragmentation efficiency while reducing retropulsion and operative time. Suction-enabled and pressure-controlled ureteral access sheaths have improved stone clearance and reduced infectious complications. Emerging technologies such as augmented reality navigation and robotic-assisted fURS have demonstrated stone-free rates comparable to those of conventional techniques while significantly improving surgeon ergonomics.

 

Conclusion: Technological innovation has transformed fURS into a highly effective, safe, and versatile modality for the treatment of renal stones. Ongoing integration of advanced lasers, innovative instrumentation, image guidance, and robotics is likely to refine outcomes further, personalise treatment strategies, and establish new benchmarks in endourological care.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Rajan Ravichandran

Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India.

 

Roshan Reddy
Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India.

 

Vivek Meyyappan
Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India.

 

Velmurugan Palaniyandi
Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India.

 

Hariharasudhan Sekar
Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India.

 

Sriram Krishnamoorthy
Department of Urology & Renal Transplantation, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-47485-68-8/CH6

Digital Health: A Paradigm Shift in Healthcare Management | Chapter 5 | Novel Research Aspects in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 8

The objective of this chapter is to explore the transformative impact of digitization on healthcare, aiming to improve patient outcomes and streamline medical processes. Healthcare, fundamentally focused on preserving and enhancing human health, has embraced digital technologies to revolutionize its landscape. The integration of binary language and information technology into healthcare practices has ushered in a new era of innovation. We delve into various facets of this digital revolution, highlighting its substantial contributions across diverse domains. Advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI and CAT scans, now leverage complex algorithms to process vast sensor-generated data. These algorithms yield actionable images, enhancing diagnostic precision while minimizing patient risks in robotic surgeries. Bioinformatics, with its capabilities in sequence analysis, genome annotation, and gene expression analysis, plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of human biology and disease. Meanwhile, health informatics has revolutionized how we acquire, store, retrieve, and utilize healthcare data, facilitating groundbreaking achievements such as rapid and cost-effective DNA sequencing. The benefits of DNA sequencing extend beyond imagination, including personalized medicine, targeted cancer therapy, and insights into previously enigmatic medical conditions. Moreover, the amalgamation of digital technologies has given rise to Public Health Informatics, a field dedicated to enhancing public health practice, research, and education.  This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the myriad information technology tools and their application in healthcare, shedding light on the transformative potential that digitization holds for the future of medical care.

Author(s) Details:

Rupesh Rastogi,
Department of Business Administration, Azad Technical Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/NRAMMS-V8/article/view/12184