A comparison of micro-PERC and retrograde intrarenal surgery results in pediatric patients with renal stones

Abstract

With advancements in endoscopic surgery, open surgical techniques for urinary system stones have paved the way for the application of less invasive treatment modalities in patients with pediatric kidney stone disease. These treatment options include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS). We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of RIRS and micro-PCNL techniques in the surgical treatment of kidney stones in pediatric patients. A total of 48 pediatric patients, who underwent RIRS or micro-PERC for pediatric kidney stone disease, were retrospectively analyzed. Urinalysis, urine culture, serum creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, 24-hour urine sample, complete blood count (CBC), urinary system X-ray, kidney ureter bladder (KUB), and urinary system ultrasonography (USG) test results were evaluated prior to the procedure. Intravenous pyelography (IVP), non-contrast computed tomography (CT), and renal scintigraphy evaluations were also performed, if necessary. The patients were divided into two groups: micro-PERC group (n=25) and RIRS group (n=23). Data relating to the duration of the operation, duration of fluoroscopy, length of hospitalization, complication rates, and stone-free rates were recorded. The mean ages of the micro-PERC and RIRS groups were 4±2.3 and 10.9±3 years, respectively (p=0.001). However, the mean stone sizes were 12.2±2.8 and 13.7±3.5mm, respectively (p>0.05). The mean duration of operation was 75.1±18.9min in the micro-PERC group and 62.3±15.3min in the RIRS group (p>0.05). In addition, the mean duration of fluoroscopy was 115±35.4s in the micro-PERC group and 39.9±15.3s in the RIRS group. The stone-free rates in the micro-PERC and RIRS groups following the procedure were reported to be 84% (21/25) and 82.6% (19/23), respectively (p>0.05). In terms of the degree of preoperative hydronephrosis between the groups, the rates of mild and moderate-severe disease were 76% (19 out of 25) and 24% (6 out of 25), and 69.5% (16 out of 23) and 30.4% (7 out of 23) in the micro-PERC and RIRS groups, respectively. In recent years, technological developments in minimally invasive procedures, such as micro-PERC and RIRS, have facilitated choices made by urologists in the effective and safe first-line treatment in pediatric patients.