Percutaneous nephroscopic with holmium laser and ultrasound lithotripsy for complicated renal calculi

The aim of this work is to validate the clinical efficacy of the high-power holmium:YAG laser with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) in combination with ultrasound lithotripsy for complicated renal calculi. From November 2006 to December 2007, 60 patients with complicated renal calculi were treated with PCNL, where an F24 standard renal access tract was established by percutaneous renal puncture under the guidance of B-mode ultrasound, and stones were fragmented and cleared by high-power holmium laser in combination with ultrasound under an F20.8 nephroscope. Of the 60 patients with complicated renal calculi, 20 were complete staghorn calculi and 30 were partial staghorn calculi, of which six patients were accompanied with renal insufficiency; two were solitary calculi, and eight were caliceal diverticular calculi. Calculi were removed by one attempt in 49 patients and by two attempts in 11 patients; through one tract in 50 patients and through two and three tracts in ten patients. The stone-free rate was 81.7%. No injury to the pleura and abdominal organs occurred during the intraoperative puncture. No postoperative blood transfusion was needed in any patient, nor did fever and secondary hemorrhage occur. The mean operation duration was 98 min (range, 60–150 min), and the mean lithotripsy time was 45 min (range, 30–85 min). Additional postoperative extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was performed on six patients. High-power holmium laser PCNL in combination with ultrasound lithotripsy is safe, effective, and minimally invasive, with a high stone-free rate, especially for complicated renal calculi.