Residual Stone Fragments after Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Shockwave Lithotripsy vs Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery

Background Post-PCNL treatment for 0.5-1.5 cm calculi is contentious. SWL has noninvasiveness, less anaesthetic, and improved subjective acceptability, but a lower stone-free rate and higher retreatment rate (RR). Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is increasingly employed to treat after PCNL residual calculi with a greater success rate (SR), but with disadvantages of invasiveness and anaesthesia. Aim To compare the outcomes of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for treating patients with RSFs after a previous standard PCNL. Subject and Methods A retrospective study of 70 adult patients with residual stone fragments after a standard PCNL submitted to RIRS or SWL (35 patients per each group) in ain shams university hospitals and police hospitals. Results There no significant difference between the groups regarding ASA, PCNL Guy’s classification, percutaneous tracts, stone composition and postoperative complications. There a significant difference between the groups regarding inferior calyx located stone and postoperative hospital stay. >2 mm stones were significantly more frequent in SWL group compared to RIRS group. Conclusion From the findings of this study we can conclude that RIRS has better SFR for the treatment of RSFs after standard PCNL