Application of a Self-Made Negative Pressure Suction-Assisted Device in Micro-Channel Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

AIM: This study aims to investigate the effect of a self-made negative pressure suction-assisted device on intrarenal pressure (IRP), surgical efficiency, and postoperative complications in micro-channel percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL). METHODS: This retrospective study included 97 patients with renal calculi who underwent mPCNL at Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital between January 2023 and August 2025. Patients were divided into two groups: an observation group (n = 50) that received negative pressure suction-assisted mPCNL and a control group (n = 47) that underwent conventional mPCNL. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative IRP-related parameters, operative time, stone-free rate (SFR), and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in baseline characteristics, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and stone parameters (p > 0.05). The mean intraoperative IRP was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (15.71 ± 3.62 mmHg vs. 19.19 ± 5.13 mmHg; p < 0.001). The cumulative duration of high IRP (>30 mmHg) was significantly shorter in the observation group (16.68 ± 2.59 seconds vs. 24.73 ± 7.53 seconds; p < 0.001). However, both the total operative time (46.11 ± 18.79 minutes) and lithotripsy/stone extraction time (29.57 ± 14.35 minutes) were significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group (54.81 ± 20.78 minutes and 36.98 ± 16.00 minutes, respectively; p < 0.05). Furthermore, both the initial postoperative SFR (88.00% vs. 87.23%; p > 0.05) and the final SFR (94.00% vs. 95.74%; p > 0.05) did not differ between groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative fever and urosepsis among the groups (p > 0.05). The decrease in postoperative hemoglobin was also similar between the groups (p = 0.151). CONCLUSIONS: The self-made negative pressure suction-assisted device during mPCNL can effectively reduce intraoperative IRP, shorten operative time, and improve surgical efficiency, without increasing the risk of postoperative complications, demonstrating favorable clinical utility.