Value of early second session shock wave lithotripsy in treatment of upper ureteric stones compared to laser ureteroscopy.

PURPOSE: The safety and efficacy of early second session shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) compared with laser ureteroscopy (URS) for the treatment of upper ureteric stones were evaluated. METHODS: From January to October 2019, 108 patients with upper ureteric stones (< 1.5 cm and ≤ 1000 Hounsfield unit (HU)) were randomized into SWL and laser URS groups. The second SWL session was performed within 48-72 h of the first session. Using plain abdominal X-ray and ultrasonography, patients were evaluated 48-72 h after the first SWL session and one week after the second and third SWL sessions or one week after URS. The procedure was considered a success when no additional procedures were needed to clear the stone. To determine the stone-free rate (SFR), noncontrast computed tomography of the urinary tract was performed three months postoperatively. RESULTS: In the SWL group, the success rates were 92.6% and 94.4% after the second and third sessions. The SFR was 96.2% in the laser URS group. The success rates were not significantly different between the second and third SWL sessions versus the laser URS (p = 0.418 and 0.660, respectively). Operative and fluoroscopy times were significantly longer in the SWL group (p = 0.001), and JJ stent insertions were needed after laser URS. CONCLUSION: Ultraslow full-power SWL treatment of patients with upper ureteric stones (< 1.5 cm and ≤ 1000 HU) with an early second session is safe and effective compared to laser URS. Patients who do not respond to early second SWL session should be shifted to another treatment modality.

Mini vs standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal stones: a comparative study.

To compare the outcome of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (Mini-PNL) versus standard-PNL for renal stones. Retrospective study was performed between March 2010 and May 2013 for patients treated by Mini-PNL or standard-PNL through 18 and 30 Fr tracts, respectively, using pneumatic lithotripsy. Semirigid ureteroscope (8.5/11.5 Fr) was used for Mini-PNL and 24 Fr nephroscope for standard-PNL. Both groups were compared in stone free rate(SFR), complications and operative time using Student-t, Mann-Whitney, Chi square or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate in addition to logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mini-PNL (378) and standard-PNL (151) were nearly comparable in patients and stones criteria including stone burden (3.77 ± 2.21 vs 3.77 ± 2.43 cm2; respectively). There was no significant difference in number of tracts or supracostal puncture. Mini-PNL had longer operative time (68.6 ± 29.09 vs 60.49 ± 11.38 min; p = 0.434), significantly shorter hospital stay (2.43 ± 1.46 vs 4.29 ± 1.28 days) and significantly higher rate of tubeless PNL (75.1 vs 4.6%). Complications were significantly higher in standard-PNL (7.9 vs 20.5%; p < 0.001). SFR was significantly lower in Mini-PNL (89.9 vs 96%; p = 0.022). This significant difference was found with multiple stones and large stone burden (> 2 cm2), but the SFR was comparable between both groups with single stone or stone burden ≤ 2 cm. Logistic regression analysis confirmed significantly higher complications and SFR with standard-PNL but with significantly shorter operative time. Mini-PNL has significantly lower SFR when compared to standard-PNL (but clinically comparable) with markedly reduced complications and hospital stay. Most of cases can be performed tubeless. The significant difference in SFR was found with multiple stones or large stone burden (> 2 cm2), but not with single stones or stone burden ≤ 2 cm2.

Bilateral Single-session vs Staged Mini-percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for Renal Stones: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare safety and efficacy of bilateral single-session mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (BSS-Mini-PNL) vs staged-Mini-PNL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult patients with bilateral renal stones indicated for PNL were managed with BSS-Mini-PNL (45 patients and 90 renal units) and prospectively compared vs staged-Mini-PNL (55 patients and 110 renal units) between July 2014 and December 2017. Mini-PNL was done through 18-Fr tract in prone position under regional anesthesia and fluoroscopy using pneumatic lithotripsy. A semirigid ureteroscope (8.5/11.5 Fr) was used. Mann-Whitney, Student t, chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests were used as appropriate. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in characteristics of stones and patients. Stone burden was 3.36 ± 1.61 vs 3.38 ± 1.18 cm2 in BSS-Mini-PNL vs staged-Mini-PNL, respectively. Staghorn stones were present in 13.3% vs 8.2% in BSS-Mini-PNL vs staged-Mini-PNL, respectively. There was no significant difference in the number of required tracts (1.34 ± 0.6 vs 1.25 ± 0.51 tract/renal unit) as well as the rate of tubeless Mini-PNL (81.1% vs 85.5%) or stone-free rate (90% vs 92.7%) in BSS-Mini-PNL vs staged-Mini-PNL, respectively. BSS-Mini-PNL had significantly shorter operative time (126.22 ± 37.2 vs 169.63 ± 61.28 minutes), shorter hospital stay (2 [1-8] vs 4 [2-16] days) and higher hemoglobin loss (1.1 [0.1-2.8] vs 0.5 [0.1-2.17] gm/d) than staged-Mini-PNL. The complications profile (17.8% vs 13.6%) and rate of blood transfusion (4.4% vs 3.6%) were comparable in BSS-Mini-PNL vs staged-Mini-PNL, respectively, without significant difference. CONCLUSION: BSS-Mini-PNL is comparable to staged-PNL as regard stone-free rate and complications according to the selection criteria of the present study. However, BSS-Mini-PNL is associated with significant reduction in the cumulative operative time and hospital stay, which are reflected on the overall cost.