X-Ray Free Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy with Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery Is Feasible, Effective, and Safe for Staghorn Calculi
Prospective cohort study shows ultrasound-guided nephrolithotomy achieves effective stone-free rates in staghorn calculi, indicating it's a safe alternative to fluoroscopy.
Key Points
X-ray free ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy resulted in a stone-free rate of 33.9% after one procedure.
Among 56 patients with staghorn calculi, 44.6% had residual fragments smaller than 4 mm, demonstrating efficacy.
This prospective cohort study analyzed outcomes based on strict criteria, involving patients treated between 2020 and 2024.
Overall complication rate was 44.6%, mostly minor, highlighting the relative safety of this approach with Clavien-Dindo classifications.