Transient apnoea during ureteroscopic lithotripsy speeds stone clearance
RCT · BJU Int · 2026-10-19. Number 5 in the UrologyWatch Top 5 for October 22, 2026.
In a 150-patient three-arm trial, transient apnoea during flexible ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy improved active lithotripsy efficiency versus regular ventilation and small tidal-volume ventilation, with shorter operative time and better surgeon-rated stability, though stone-free rates were similar across groups.
Why it matters: Suggests an anesthesia-based technique to reduce operative time without added bleeding/complication risk, worth discussing with anesthesia teams.
Limitation: Single-center study; primary outcome was a surrogate efficiency measure, not stone-free rate, which did not differ significantly.
Source: BJU Int · PubMed 42893851 · DOI 10.1111/bju.70505
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