For a study, the researchers sought to use The Delphi approach to reach an international agreement on how to treat urolithiasis patients during the epidemic. A thorough survey on the management of endourologic patients in a pandemic was utilized to extract expert consensus (53 global key opinion leaders within the Endourological Society from 36 countries) using a 3-round Delphi procedure. General management, inpatient and outpatient operations, clinic visits, follow-up care, and best practices for suspension and resumption of usual care were among the topics included in the survey. The consensus was reached in 64 of the 84 questions (76%). The following were some of the critical consensus findings: consultations should be delivered remotely. Urolithiasis patients should only undergo invasive surgical procedures in high-risk conditions (infection, renal failure, etc.). When possible, the spinal anesthetic was favored over the general anesthetic to avoid aerosolization. Renal stones that were asymptomatic should not be treated. Temporizing drainage was preferable over primary definitive therapy of obstructive or symptomatic stones (renal and ureteral). For obstructive ureteral stones, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy should be continued. There was consensus on treatment techniques and drainage strategies based on the location and size of the stone. The Endourological Society’s international endourologists engaged in this Delphi initiative to provide professional consensus on urolithiasis care during a pandemic. The outcomes can be used now and in the future in the event of a pandemic.
Source –www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/end.2021.0477
