Kidney Stones

Two new analyses from the ASPIRE trial showed lower health care consumption events and reduced follow-up costs with the SURE procedure vs URS, with RSV emerging as a key predictor of long-term utilization.

The results highlight the complexity of secondary prevention in stone disease.

According to Chew, Break Wave lithotripsy is best suited to renal and ureterovesical junction stones, where ultrasound visualization is most reliable.

Dinesh Singh, MD, emphasizes that radiation reduction begins at the diagnostic stage, favoring low-dose CT scans over standard-dose imaging.

For asymptomatic renal stones, Mathew D. Sorensen, MD, MS, FACS, said he believes Break Wave could meaningfully influence the long-standing debate between surveillance and early intervention.

Ezra J. Margolin, MD, highlights a recent study examining antibiotic prescribing patterns for patients presenting to the emergency department with kidney stones.

Singh concludes that increasing physician awareness and comfort with low-dose imaging is key to reducing unnecessary radiation while maintaining diagnostic accuracy and patient safety.

Because Break Wave uses lower pressure levels, patient discomfort is minimal, allowing treatments to be performed without sedation.

Break Wave lithotripsy uses low-pressure, repeated pulses that generate standing stress waves within the stone.

A recap of the FDA submissions and regulatory decisions in urology from January 2026.

The safety and efficacy of the Break Wave device was assessed in the pivotal SOUND trial.

Walter R. Hsiang, MD, MBA, highlights a study looking at access to care, insurance acceptance, wait times, and costs for stone disease management.

John Michael DiBianco, MD, discusses the design of the ongoing SOUL trial, which is assessing stent omission vs stent placement following uncomplicated ureteroscopy.

As the year comes to a close, we revisit some of this year’s top content on prostate cancer.

The SOUL trial is exploring the feasibility of stent omission following uncomplicated ureteroscopy.

Laser technology is expected to play a major role in the next wave of innovation.

Learn how suction has become central to contemporary ureteroscopic practice and how its integration is reshaping surgical decision-making, treatment algorithms, and the perceived role of percutaneous procedures.

Karen L. Stern, MD, and Naeem Bhojani, MD, FRCSC, outline the advantages of CVAC 2.0, particularly in cases involving larger stone burdens.

Experts compare and contrast direct in-scope suction with the flexible and navigable ureteric access sheath.

In this opening segment, the discussion focuses on the rapid evolution of kidney stone surgery and how suction has transitioned from an aspirational idea to a core component of modern ureteroscopy.

In September 2024, the FDA granted an Orphan Drug Designation and a Rare Pediatric Disease Designation to YOLT-203 for PH1.

"The more I use [SURE], the more applications I see with it," says Matthew A. Love, MD.

A recap of the FDA submissions and regulatory decisions in urology from October 2025.

Avvio Medical plans to submit a de novo application for clearance of the device in early 2026.

Amy E. Krambeck, MD, explained that active suction provided by FANS helps reduce intrarenal pressure by continuously removing irrigation fluid.