The Efficacy of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Using Pneumatic Lithotripsy vs. the Holmium Laser: a Randomized Study

The objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy using holmium laser vs pneumatic lithotripsy. From August 2010 to March 2014, 200 patients with double kidney and single kidney stones without previous operations or other diseases were randomized into two groups according to the type of lithotripter used: pneumatic (n = 100) and laser (n = 100). The preoperative, intraoperative, and post-operative follow-up findings were analyzed and compared. The average stone size was similar in both the pneumatic and holmium laser lithotripsy groups (202.8 ± 52.6 mm² vs. 200.3 ± 50.8 mm²). No significant difference was found between the operation time for the two groups (55.9 ± 16.5 min vs. 62.4 ± 17.6 min). The concentrations of creatinine in both groups increased 2–24 h after the operation and decreased to a normal level 1–4 days after the operation in both groups. Renal diuretic scan revealed that the peak and the renal index were both abnormal after the operation but became normal 4 days after the operation in both groups. No significant difference of creatinine concentration or the diuresis renogram was observed between the two groups. However, two cases in the holmium laser group had almost lost the renal function of the operated kidney 1 year later. Both pneumatic and holmium laser lithotripsy can be associated with acute renal injury in some patients after the operation without any significant difference. However, some infrequent severe renal function damage in laser lithotripsy should be noted.