Disruptions in Renal Stone Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Objectives: This study evaluated changes in renal stone management during the COVID-19 pandemic in a single center, focusing on treatment methods, patient outcomes and healthcare delivery models.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis comparing patients treated for kidney stones between July-September 2019 (pre-pandemic period) and July-September 2020 (pandemic period). We assessed the number of treated patients, treatment modalities and postoperative outcomes.

Results: A total of 77 inpatients were analyzed, of whom 50 had been admitted to hospital during the pre-pandemic period and 27 during the pandemic, which represented a 46% decrease in hospitalizations. There were no significant differences in body mass index, average age, stone laterality, size, or location. Serum creatinine levels and positive urine cultures were also comparable between the groups. A trend toward more minimally invasive procedures was observed during the pandemic, with an increased use of flexible ureteroscopy (62% vs . 70.4%) and a decrease in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (12% vs . 7.4%). Operative times and hospital stays were similar across groups. However, the stone-free rate significantly decreased during the pandemic (91.1% vs . 84.07%).

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted renal stone management, leading to a preference for minimally invasive surgery but a lower stone-free rate.