Top 10 kidney stone stories in 2024

There has been a lot of advancements in the management of kidney stones over the past year. To celebrate these breakthroughs, the editorial staff at Urology Times® is showcasing our best content on kidney stones from 2024.

This year has been full of advancements in kidney stone management.

Alkaline water unlikely to prevent kidney stones, study finds

According to a study conducted by investigators at the University of California, Irvine, alkaline water contains scant levels of alkali, suggesting that products may have a negligible effect on urinary pH and urinary citrate levels and therefore may not offer any benefit for the prevention of recurrent kidney stones. Read more here.

FDA grants 510(k) clearance to RenaFlex ureteroscope system

In April 2024, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance to the RenaFlex single-use flexible ureteroscope system for use in the treatment of patients with urinary diseases such as kidney stones. The ureteroscope is designed to work in combination with the compatible CV-S1 video system center for flexible single-use endoscopes. Learn more here.

FDA grants rare pediatric disease designation to YOLT-203 for primary hyperoxaluria type 1

The FDA awarded a rare pediatric disease designation to the in vivo gene editing therapy YOLT-203, which is under investigation for the treatment of patients with primary hyperoxaluria type 1. The therapy is currently being assessed in the early phase 1 YOLT-203-101 trial. Read more here.

Data support shock wave lithotripsy for pediatric patients with kidney stones

Data presented at the 2024 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas showed that shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) resulted in similar stone clearance and better lived experiences compared with ureteroscopy (URS) among pediatric patients with small- to medium-sized kidney or ureteral stones. View more on the findings here.

No tubes, no stents: Investigators explore advanced approach to PCNL

In this interview, Mantu Gupta, MD, discusses an innovative approach to percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in which no nephrostomy tube and no stent is left in the patient following the procedure. Read the full interview here.

FDA grants de novo clearance to Stone Clear device

The FDA has granted de novo clearance to the Stone Clear device, which delivers non-invasive ultrasound pulses to patients to facilitate passage of residual kidney stone fragments post-lithotripsy. Stone Clear is designed to manage kidney stones in the clinic setting without requiring anesthesia. Learn more here.

Steerable ureteroscopic renal evacuation shows promise for kidney stone removal

Steerable ureteroscopic renal evacuation using the CVAC Aspiration System demonstrated noninferiority vs standard ureteroscopy for kidney stone removal, according to findings from the prospective, randomized ASPIRE study presented at the 2024 AUA Annual meeting. Read more on the data here.

Irrigation systems evaluated for intrarenal pressure, flow rate

A study evaluating intrarenal pressure and flow rate with several different irrigation methods and other variables demonstrated that both larger ureteral access sheath size and working channel occupant are linked with reduced intrarenal pressure. Learn more on the findings here.

Combo of burst wave lithotripsy and ultrasonic propulsion feasible for kidney stones

Combination treatment with burst wave lithotripsy (BWL) and ultrasonic propulsion for small, asymptomatic renal stones is feasible in an office-based setting with awake patients, according to findings presented on a poster at the 2024 AUA Annual Meeting. Read more here.

Investigators develop mobile care plan for patients with kidney stones

In this interview, Jenny Guo, MD, provides an overview of a mobile care plan for kidney stone management that was evaluated in the 2024 American Urological Association Annual Meeting abstract, “Development of a novel mobile health platform for surveillance of kidney stone formers: 6-month preliminary analysis.” Read the full interview here.