Impact of Surgical Experience on Radiation Exposure during Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Propensity-Score Matching Analysis

Background: The impact of surgical experience on radiation exposure (RE) during endourological procedures has been poorly investigated. Objective: To assess the impact of surgical experience on fluoroscopy time (FT) and RE during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Design, setting, and participants: The study included 140 patients who underwent RIRS performed either by a senior surgeon (expertise of >100 RIRSs) (group A) or by two junior residents (expertise of <15 RIRSs) (group B) between January 2016 and May 2018. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: We tested the hypothesis that surgical experience had a limited impact on RE during RIRS. To adjust for potential baseline confounders, propensity-score matching was performed. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models tested the association between clinical variables and FT and patients’ effective doses. Results and limitations: There was no significant difference between the two groups for baseline, intraoperative, and postoperative characteristics. Overall FT (p = 0.97) and effective dose (p = 0.79) did not differ between groups. A statistically significant association was found between male sex (all p < 0.03), stone burden (all p < 0.001), operative time (all p < 0.003), and postoperative double-J placement (all p < 0.02) with both FT and effective dose. Linear multivariable analysis revealed that body mass index was significantly associated with effective dose (p = 0.002). Similarly, longer operative time (all p < 0.03) and double-J placement (all p < 0.04) were significantly associated with increased FT and effective dose. Conclusions: Surgical experience has a limited impact on FT and RE during RIRS. Longer operative time and double-J placement were associated with increased FT and effective dose. Patient summary: In this study, we assessed whether surgical experience affects fluoroscopy time and patient's effective dose during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). We found that radiation exposure (RE) was not affected by surgeon's experience and that the standardisation of the surgical technique at the beginning of the learning curve of young surgeons may represent the key factor in reducing RE during RIRS. Surgical experience has a limited impact on fluoroscopy time and patient's radiation exposure during retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). Standardisation of the surgical technique at the beginning of the learning curve of young surgeons may represent the key factor in reducing radiation exposure during RIRS.