Urología Colombiana (Jan 2024)

Assessing safety and efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy in elderly patients

  • Jeffer D. Álvarez-Villarraga,
  • Herney A. García-Perdomo,
  • Héctor A. Ramírez-Vásquez,
  • Jorge E. Palacios-Riascos,
  • Andrea López-Sanmiguel

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33, no. 1

Abstract

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Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of flexible ureteroscopy (F-URS) for the management of intrarenal or proximal ureteral lithiasis in aged patients. Materials and methods: In this retrospective, multicenter observational study, we collected the anonymized clinical data of patients who underwent F-URS at two institutions in Cali, Colombia between June 2015 and May 2018. The patients were divided into two groups based on age: Group A defined as aged patients (> 65 years) and Group B as patients of non-advanced age (< 65 years). Results: A total of 201 patients were included in this study. The average age for Group A was 75 years (± 4.5) and for Group B was 51 years (± 10). The anesthetic risk classification (American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA]) and comorbidities were significantly higher for Group A with an ASA II and III of 74% versus 50% in Group B. No significant differences were shown in the stone-free rates (SFRs) or significant ureteral injury (Grade III and IV). There was no difference in intraoperative or post-operative complications between both groups. Conclusions: Age > 65 years was not associated with a negative impact on the outcomes of F-URS for the management of intrarenal or proximal ureteral lithiasis in this cohort of patients. F-URS appears as a safe and effective procedure and should not be withheld from older patients.

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