Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of PCNL and ESWL in Patients with Complicated Upper Urinary Tract Renal Calculi

Objective center dot This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of combining percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for the treatment of patients with complicated upper urinary calculi. Methods center dot We employed a randomized controlled experimental design to examine data from patients diagnosed with complex upper urinary tract renal calculi at our hospital from April 2019 to March 2020. A total of 98 eligible patients were included in the study. To ensure the integrity of the research, we computerized and randomized the patient data according to the study's protocol. Subsequently, we divided the patients into two groups: a control group (n = 49) that received ESWLas thetreatment modality and an experimental group (n = 49) that underwent a combined treatment approach involving both PCNL and ESWL. Following the completion of the treatments, we analyzed stone clearance rates and other outcome indicators. Additionally, we carefully documented any post-treatment adverse events to evaluate patient safety comprehensively. Results center dot The experimental group exhibited a higher stone clearance rate compared to the control group. Comparison of visual Analog Scale/Score (VAS) pain scores, operation time, and hospitalization time revealed statistically significant differences (P <.05), with the experimental group showing slightly worse performance than the control group. After treatment, both groups experienced varying degrees of complications, with the experimental group demonstrating fewer complications, a statistically significant result (P <.05). Conclusions center dot Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy significantly improved stone clearance rates in patients with complex upper urinary tract renal calculi. Simultaneously, it positively impacted surgical outcomes and reduced the incidence of post-treatment adverse events. This intervention offers clinical benefits.