Comparison of transureteroscope holmium laser lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrotithotomy in treatment of upper-ureteral calculi

Objective: To investigate the effects of ureteroscope holmium laser lithotripsy( UrL) and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy( PCNL) in management of upper urinary tract calculi. Methods: Forty-three patients with upper ureter calculi were included in the study. Twenty-four of them were treated by UrL( UrL group) and 19 by PCNL( PCNL group) . The operation time，post-operativehospital stay，post-operative infection， stone-free rate and complication were compared between the two groups. Results: The operation time and hospital stay of the UrL group were significantly shorter than those of the PCNL group( P ＜ 0. 01) . The stone-free rate，postoperativeinfection and complication had no significant differences between the two groups( P ＞ 0. 05) . Conclusions: UrL is the bestchoice for patients whose ureteric calculi are located in a low position and have little hydronephrosis， or the patients who cannot undergogeneral anesthesia; PCNL is more suitable for patients whose ureteric calculi are in the upper part or near the pelvis with obvious hydronephrosis.