Optimal Patient Positioning and Strategy for the Treatment of Proximal Ureteral Stones
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Summary
Ureteroscopic management of proximal ureteral stones presents technical challenges including stone retropulsion, prolonged operative time, and conversion to intrarenal treatment. Reverse Trendelenburg positioning has been shown to reduce proximal stone migration and operative time in ureteral stones, while the T-tilt position improves intrarenal stone clearance. The optimal strategy for proximal ureteral stones (treating stones in situ using reverse Trendelenburg versus pushing stones into the kidney followed by intrarenal treatment in T-tilt) remains unknown. This randomized controlled trial compares these two strategies, with primary focus on operative time as a measure of procedural efficiency. A total of 54 patients (27 per arm) will be enrolled at Mount Sinai West.
Description
Ureteroscopy has become a primary modality for the management of ureteral and renal calculi due to its high efficacy, minimally invasive nature, and favorable safety profile. Despite advances in flexible ureteroscopy, laser lithotripsy, and access technologies, proximal ureteral stones remain technically challenging, largely due to their tendency to migrate retrograde into the kidney, leading to prolonged operative time, increased need for flexible ureteroscopy, and lower procedural efficiency. Stone retropulsion is influenced by laser energy, irrigation flow, ureteral anatomy, and gravitatio…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion criteria: * Adults aged 18 years and older. * Diagnosed with kidney stones and scheduled for fURS. * Stone burden \> 1 cm and/or multiple stones will be eligible. * Able and willing to provide informed consent. Exclusion criteria: * Pregnant persons as determined by pre-operative urine pregnancy test (standard of care at the institution) * Untreated UTI * Patients with urinary anomalies (e.g., urinary diversion, ureteral reconstruction, horseshoe kidney) * Single stone \< 1 cm
Interventions
- ProcedureReverse Trendelenburg Position
Patients will be positioned in reverse Trendelenburg at a 20 degree incline with the use of a digital protractor. Lithotripsy will be performed within the ureter with attempts to prevent proximal migration and until all fragments are removed.
- ProcedureT-Tilt Position
Stone will be intentionally relocated into the kidney when feasible, followed by intrarenal lithotripsy in T-tilt position. In the T-tilt position the table is angled 15-degree Trendelenburg and 15-degree airplane away from the surgical side kidney with the use of a digital protractor. This allows fragments to rest in a superior and medial position away from the lower pole to facilitate removal.
Location
- Mount Sinai WestNew York, New York