Comparison of two micro-invasive surigical procedures for upper ureteral calculi

Objective: To compare the effects of minimal invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) and trans-urethral ureteroscope lithotripsy (URL)in management of upper ureteral calculi.Methods: Forty-four patients with upper ureteral stone were enrolled in the study.Twenty-three cases were treated by URL and 21cases by mPCNL.Results: In the URL group,the stone-free rates were 34.8% and 82.6% one week and six weeks after the operation respectively;in the mPCNL group,the stone free rates were 85.7% and 95.2% one week and six weeks after the operation respectively.The mPCNL group was superior to URL group in stone free rate one week after the operation (P<0.01),but the difference was not significant six weeks after the operation (P>0.05).Conclusions: High stone-free rate can be obtained by mPCNL for upper ureteral calculi.mPCNL may be the first choice,and URL is also of great use for treatment of upper ureteral stone.