"External validation of Modified Seoul National University Renal Stone Complexity Score to predict outcome and complications of retrograde intrarenal surgery: a RIRSearch Group study"
This study, conducted by the RIRSearch Group, aimed to externally validate the Modified Seoul National University Renal Stone Complexity Score (S-ReSC) as a tool to predict the outcomes and complications of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for kidney stones. The S-ReSC is a scoring system developed by researchers at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital to assess the complexity of kidney stones and guide treatment decisions.
The authors of this study collected data from 11 centers across 5 countries, including 774 patients who underwent RIRS for kidney stones. They calculated S-ReSC scores for each patient based on preoperative imaging, and evaluated the association between S-ReSC scores and surgical outcomes and complications.
The results of the study showed that higher S-ReSC scores were associated with a longer operative time, higher stone-free rates, and increased risk of complications. Specifically, patients with S-ReSC scores of 8 or higher were more likely to experience complications such as bleeding, fever, or urinary tract infections.
The external validation of the S-ReSC in this study provides further evidence of its usefulness as a tool to predict surgical outcomes and complications of RIRS for kidney stones. The widespread adoption of this scoring system could improve patient selection, aid in treatment decision-making, and ultimately lead to better clinical outcomes.
However, it is important to note that this study has some limitations. The retrospective nature of the data collection means that the results are subject to selection bias, and the study only included patients who underwent RIRS, so the applicability of the S-ReSC to other types of stone management is unclear.
In conclusion, the external validation of the S-ReSC in this study is a promising step towards improving the management of kidney stones through the use of a standardized scoring system. Further research is needed to determine the generalizability of the S-ReSC to other populations and treatment modalities.