Robotic kidney stone surgery: clearance rates vary across studies
A review reported a high pooled stone-clearance rate after robotic procedures, but definitions varied and the abstract provides no comparison showing an advantage over another treatment.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review combined reports of robotic flexible ureteroscopy for urinary stones and found that most treated cases met the studies' definitions of being stone-free. However, results varied substantially, and some definitions allowed small remaining fragments. The pooled rate alone cannot establish superiority over another procedure or describe all treatment outcomes.
The abstract gives no direct treatment comparison, follow-up timing, or complication results. Variation in stone-free definitions and study results limits interpretation of the pooled rate.
What researchers found
Reported stone clearance after robotic procedures
Study rates ranged from 57.7 to 96.5%. Definitions varied; follow-up timing and a treatment comparator were not reported.
What was combined
The review included several robotic systems rather than a single platform. A pooled rate summarizes these reports together, while the wide range of individual study results shows that the same outcome was not observed consistently.
What stone-free meant
Some studies required complete removal of stones; others counted remaining fragments smaller than 2 mm as stone-free. These definitions describe different endpoints, which matters when interpreting a combined clearance rate or comparing it with other reports.
The original publication
Surgical outcomes of robotic surgery for kidney stones: a systematic review and meta-analysis from section of YAU and EAU endourology.
Ergül RB, Özervarli MF, Panthier F et al.
World J Urol · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40484898
- Record checked
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