The Evolving Role of Perioperative Nurses in Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is an established minimally invasive approach for the management of renal stones. As the procedure has become increasingly technology-dependent, perioperative nurses have assumed broader responsibilities in patient preparation, intraoperative coordination, safety management and postoperative surveillance. This structured narrative review examined the evolving role of perioperative nurses in RIRS. PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus were searched for English-language literature published between January 2015 and December 2024 using terms related to RIRS, flexible ureteroscopy, perioperative nursing, patient safety, infection prevention, laser safety, training, competency and digital innovation. To maintain clinical relevance, selected major guideline documents and key publications published up to 2026 were also incorporated where directly relevant to current RIRS practice. Eligible sources included guidelines, reviews and original studies relevant to perioperative nursing and endourological care. The literature was synthesised thematically. As a narrative review, formal risk-of-bias assessment was not undertaken. The literature consistently identified perioperative nursing contributions in preoperative assessment and education, equipment preparation, infection prevention, laser safety, intraoperative workflow coordination, patient positioning and postoperative monitoring. However, most available evidence was procedure-focused rather than nursing-specific, and direct evaluation of nurse-led interventions in RIRS remained limited. Current evidence supports the clinical relevance of perioperative nursing practice, but measurable outcome data linked specifically to nursing actions is still insufficient. Perioperative nurses play an important role across the RIRS pathway by supporting procedural safety, team coordination and recovery-oriented care. Their contribution is especially relevant to infection prevention, laser safety, positioning and postoperative surveillance. Future research should move beyond descriptive accounts and evaluate the measurable impact of perioperative nursing interventions on infectious complications, workflow efficiency and patient recovery.