Initial Results for Flexible and Navigable Suction Access Sheath (FANS) In Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS)

Abstract

Background: Urolithiasis is an increasingly prevalent condition, and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) has become a widely used minimally invasive treatment. However, conventional RIRS is limited by elevated intrarenal pressure, suboptimal visualization, and a higher risk of postoperative infectious complications.

Aim: This review aims to evaluate the role of suction-assisted technologies, particularly the flexible and navigable suction access sheath (FANS), in improving the safety and efficacy of RIRS.

Methods: A narrative review of the current literature was conducted, focusing on the evolution of suction use in endourology, the technical characteristics of FANS, and its clinical outcomes in RIRS, including intrarenal pressure control, stone-free rates, operative time, and complications.

Conclusion: Available evidence suggests that the use of FANS during RIRS improves intrarenal pressure regulation, enhances stone clearance, and reduces postoperative infectious complications without increasing ureteral injury. FANS represents a promising advancement in RIRS, although further prospective and randomized studies are required to confirm its long-term benefits.