Zhengdong Guo,1,* Yu Yang,2,* Chun Liu1 

1Department of Urology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Chun Liu, Email sxtyliuchun@126.com

Abstract: The utilization of ureteroscopy (URS) for managing urolithiasis has garnered substantial global recognition. Nonetheless, bibliometric analyses focusing on URS in the context of urolithiasis treatment remain sparse. Therefore, we used bibliometrics to summarize the relevant literature in this field in recent years, in order to grasp the core research directions, capture the developmental frontiers, and provide valuable information for urologists to understand the research hotspots. In this study, we compiled the literature on URS and urinary stones from the Web of Science core database over the past two decades. In this study, we compiled literature about URS and urolithiasis from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning the past two decades. The assembled data were subsequently visualized and analyzed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. The findings revealed a total of 1,461 publications, with a consistent annual increase and a notable surge post-2010. The most frequently occurring keywords identified were “ureteroscopy” and “calculi”. Olivier Traxer, a prominent figure from France, is recognized as a leading expert in the domain, particularly emphasizing the practical application of diverse techniques for the treatment and management of urinary stones. The Journal of Urology has disseminated the most pertinent literature in this area, with Turkey emerging as the most prolific contributor. Keyword analysis within this field has identified four primary research hotspots: the investigation of complications to mitigate treatment risks, the standardization of treatment protocols, the determination of treatment indications based on stone types, and the implementation of novel techniques in ureteroscopic lithotripsy.

Keywords: ureteroscopy, urolithiasis, bibliometric analysis, co-citation, visual analysis