Comparison of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy and Combined Flexible Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy for Renal Calculi

Objective: We intended to investigate the effect of combined flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy for renal calculi, compared with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Material and methods: From April 2014 to December 2014, 76 patients with different degrees of back pain or hematuria were finally diagnosed as single renal calculi (1.1-3.5cm). The entry standards excluded the calculous patients whose dignosis were stricture of uretero-pelvic junction, staghorn calculi, multiple kidney stones, solitary kidney, horseshoe kidney, severe renal dysfunction. 32cases of control group were performed percutaneous nephrolithotomy, and 44 cases of study group were performed combined flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Results The average operation time was (41.7 +/- 8.5) minutes vs (49.4 +/- 11.3) minutes (P<0.05), the postoperative stay was (5.6 +/- 2.1) d vs (4.8 +/- 1.3) d (P<0.05), and the immediate stone free rate was 90.6% (29/32) vs 88.6% (39/44) (P>0.05), final stone free rate was 93.8% (30/32) vs 93.2% (41/44) (P>0.05), In PCNL group and FURL group respectively. The complication rate was 37.5% (12/32) vs 11.4 (5/44) (p<0.05). Conclusions: The combined flexible ureteroscopy with Ho: YAG is an effective and safe treatment modality. The calculous patients who intend to FURL should do well in the preoperative evaluation.