High stone-free rate immediately after suctioning flexible ureteroscopy with Intelligent pressure-control in treating upper urinary tract calculi

BACKGROUND: The retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of suctioning flexible ureteroscopy with Intelligent pressure-control (SFUI) on treating upper urinary tract calculi in a large cohort. METHODS: Between July 2020 and August 2021, 278 patients with upper urinary tract calculi who underwent SFUI in our hospital were enrolled. Outcomes were stone-free rate (SFR) in one session and one-month after SFUI treatment, and complications scored by the Clavien-Dindo classification. RESULTS: A total of 310 kidneys underwent SFUI were included. The median surgery time was 75 min (ranged 60–110 min). One session and one-month SFRs were 80.65% and 82.26%, respectively. The one-session SFR was ≧ 87% in patients with Guy’s stone score of Grade I among stone size < 40 mm. Risk factors for unsuccessful stone-free in one session were stone history (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21–4.73), stone size of 40–49 mm (aOR: 4.37, 95% CI: 1.16–16.45), Guy’s stone score ≧ Grade II (Grade II, aOR: 3.54, 95% CI: 1.18–10.59; Grade III, aOR: 10.95, 95% CI: 2.65–45.25). The incidence of Clavien-Dindo grade II-III complication was 3.26%. Complication is associated with Guy’s stone score III (aOR: 22.36, 95% CI: 1.81–276.36). CONCLUSION: SFUI shows good safety and efficiency on treating upper urinary tract calculi. Patients with stone size < 40 mm or Guy’s stone score of Grade I have a high chance to reach stone-free after SFUI treatment.