Urosepsis Complicated by Septic Shock After Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery for a Staghorn Calculus: A Case Report

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66166/cjaim.2.1.7

Keywords:

ECIRS; urosepsis; septic shock; staghorn calculus

Abstract

Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) is used for complex renal stones because it combines retrograde and percutaneous access and may allow complete stone clearance in a single session. Infectious complications are recognised after stone surgery. Rapid progression to septic shock, however, is not expected after an apparently uncomplicated procedure, and patients are usually managed postoperatively on the ward. We present a 51-year-old woman with a right-sided staghorn calculus and multiple documented antibiotic allergies who developed urosepsis complicated by septic shock after ECIRS. The procedure was technically successful, but septic shock developed approximately 10 hours postoperatively, requiring intensive care unit admission. Treatment included fluid resuscitation, noradrenaline, oxygen therapy, and antimicrobial therapy guided by previous susceptibility results and the allergy profile. This case supports better preoperative identification of patients at risk and early recognition of postoperative deterioration after ECIRS.

 

 

 

References

1.Skolarikos A, Jung H, Neisius A, Petřík A, Somani B, Tailly T, et al. EAU Guidelines on Urolithiasis. Arnhem: European Association of Urology; 2023.

2.Scoffone CM, Cracco CM, Cossu M, Grande S, Poggio M, Scarpa RM. Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery in Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position: a new standard for percutaneous nephrolithotomy? Eur Urol. 2008;54(6):1393-403. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2008.07.073

3. Seitz C, Desai M, Häcker A, Hakenberg OW, Liatsikos E, Nagele U, et al. Incidence, prevention, and management of complications following percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy. Eur Urol. 2012;61(1):146-58. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2011.09.016

4. Sun J, Xu J, OuYang J. Risk factors of infectious complications following ureteroscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Urol Int. 2020;104(1-2):113-24. doi:10.1159/000504326

5. Bapir R, Bhatti KH, Eliwa A, García-Perdomo HA, Gherabi N, Hennessey D, et al. Infectious complications of endourological treatment of kidney stones: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2022;94(1):97-106. doi:10.4081/aiua.2022.1.97

6. Draga ROP, Kok ET, Sorel MR, Bosch RJLH, Lock TMTW. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: factors associated with fever after the first postoperative day and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. J Endourol. 2009;23(6):921-7. doi:10.1089/end.2009.0041

7. Labate G, Modi P, Timoney A, Cormio L, Zhang X, Louie M, et al. The percutaneous nephrolithotomy global study: classification of complications. J Endourol. 2011;25(8):1275-80. doi:10.1089/end.2011.0067

8. Dogan HS, Şahin A, Çetinkaya Y, Akdogan B, Özden E, Kendi S. Antibiotic prophylaxis in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: prospective study in 81 patients. J Endourol. 2002;16(9):649-53. doi:10.1089/089277902761402989

9. Mariappan P, Smith G, Moussa SA, Tolley DA. One week of ciprofloxacin before percutaneous nephrolithotomy significantly reduces upper tract infection and urosepsis: a prospective controlled study. BJU Int. 2006;98(5):1075-9. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06450.x

10. Yu J, Guo B, Yu J, Chen T, Han X, Niu Q, et al. Antibiotic prophylaxis in perioperative period of percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. World J Urol. 2020;38(7):1685-700. doi:10.1007/s00345-019-02967-5

11. Li T, Sun X, Lai D, Li X, He Y. Fever and systemic inflammatory response syndrome after retrograde intrarenal surgery: risk factors and predictive model. Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2018;34(7):400-8. doi:10.1016/j.kjms.2018.01.002

12. Singer M, Deutschman CS, Seymour CW, Shankar-Hari M, Annane D, Bauer M, et al. The third international consensus definitions for sepsis and septic shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA. 2016;315:801-10.

13. Prescott HC, Antonelli M, Alhazzani W, Møller MH, Alshamsi F, Azevedo LCP, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock 2026. Intensive Care Med. 2026. doi:10.1007/s00134-026-08361-1

14. Corrales M, Sierra A, Doizi S, Traxer O. Risk of sepsis in retrograde intrarenal surgery: a systematic review of the literature. Eur Urol Open Sci. 2022;44:84-91. doi:10.1016/j.euros.2022.08.008

15. Bhojani N, Miller LE, Bhattacharyya S, Cutone B, Chew BH. Risk factors for urosepsis after ureteroscopy for stone disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis. J Endourol. 2021;35(7):991-1000. doi:10.1089/end.2020.1133

16. Bag S, Kumar S, Taneja N, Sharma V, Mandal AK, Singh SK. One week of nitrofurantoin before percutaneous nephrolithotomy significantly reduces upper tract infection and urosepsis: a prospective controlled study. Urology. 2011;77(1):45-9. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2010.03.025

17. Mariappan P, Smith G, Bariol SV, Moussa SA, Tolley DA. Stone and pelvic urine culture and sensitivity are better than bladder urine as predictors of urosepsis following percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective clinical study. J Urol. 2005;173(5):1610-4. doi:10.1097/01.ju.0000154350.78826.96

Downloads

Published

22-07-2026

Data Availability Statement

The data are not publicly available due to patient privacy and confidentiality.