2022 Recommendations of the AFU Lithiasis Committee: Combined approach for the management of kidney and ureteral stones (Endoscopic Combined IntraRenal Surgery, ECIRS).

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of the combined approach is to limit the number of percutaneous access tracts for the treatment of staghorn, or complex kidney stones by simultaneous percutaneous antegrade and retrograde ureteroscopy. The other indication is the simultaneous presence of several kidney and ureteral stones or of an impacted pelvic stone. The combination of the two techniques may increase the stone-free rate and decrease the retreatment rate of complex stones compared with percutaneous nephrolithotomy alone. The patient is usually in the modified supine position. METHODOLOGY: These recommendations were developed using two methods: the Clinical Practice Recommendation (CPR) method and the ADAPTE method, depending on whether the question was considered in the European Association of Urology (EAU) recommendations (https//uroweb.org/guidelines/urolithiasis) [EAU Guidelines on urolithiasis. 2022] and their adaptability to the French context.