Rosa M, Usai P, Miano R, Kim FJ, Finazzi Agrò E, Bove P, Micali S; International Translational Research in Uro-Sciences Team (ITRUST).
Department of Urology, University of Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71-41124, Modena, Italy

Abstract

This review summarizes recent literature on advances regarding renal and ureteral calculi, with particular focus in areas of recent advances in the overall field of urolithiasis. Clinical management in everyday practice requires a complete understanding of the issues regarding metabolic evaluation and subgrouping of stone-forming patients, diagnostic procedures, effective treatment regime in acute stone colic, medical expulsive therapy, and active stone removal. In this review we focus on new perspectives in managing nephrolitihiasis and discuss recent advances, including medical expulsive therapy, new technologies, and refinements of classical therapy such as shock wave lithotripsy, give a fundamental modification of nephrolithiasis management. Overall, this field appears to be the most promising, capable of new developments in ureterorenoscopy and percutaneous approaches. Further improvements are expected from robotic-assisted procedures, such as flexible robotics in ureterorenoscopy.

BMC Urol. 2013 Feb 16;13:10. doi: 10.1186/1471-2490-13-10
PMID:23413950 [PubMed - in process] PMCID:PMC3599704. FREE ARTICLE