Objectives: The study presents a comparative analysis of the mini-percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (mini-PCNL) and retrograde nephrolithotripsy (RIRS) with a logistic analysis of outcomes and complications.
Material and methods: The prospective study included 50 patients diagnosed with urolithiasis from 2018 to 2021 in the urological hospitals in Irkutsk. Patients were divided into two groups: RIRS (group I, n = 23) and Mini-PCNL (group II, n = 27). The comparison groups are statistically homogeneous.
Results: Both procedures equally lead to high stone free rates (SFR > 1 mm, 91.3% vs 85.1%; p = 0.867; SFR > 2 mm, 95.6% vs 92.5%; p = 0.936). The intergroup analysis of the total operation time (and lithotripsy) demonstrated similar times (p > 0.05). Postoperative complications of classes II-III (Clavien-Dindo) in the early and late postoperative period developed rarely and were comparable (p > 0.05). Class I complications were predominant in the PCNL group (p = 0.007). Some parameters demonstrated the superiority of RIRS over PCNL: less pronounced pain syndrome (p = 0.002), less drainage time (p < 0.001), no postoperative hematuria (p = 0.002), shorter hospitalization and total treatment period (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: The study highlighted the positive effect of the oneday surgery principle on the risk of developing postoperative hematuria, urinary infection, or severe postoperative pain. RIRS and mini-PCNL have similar effectiveness, but RIRS meets the criteria of the enhanced recovery program more than PCNL.