title: Comparative analysis between percutaneous nephrolithotomy and flexible ureteroscopy in kidney stones of 2-3cm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare percutaneous nephrolithotomy and flexible ureterorenoscopy for treating kidney stones between 2 and 3cm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, comparative, nonrandomised study was conducted with 108 patients with kidney stones between 2 and 3cm. Fifty-four patients underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and 54 underwent flexible ureteroscopy. We compared the following variables: lithiasis-free rate (%), surgical time, the need for an auxiliary process, postoperative complications, hospital stay, readmission rates and recovery time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the lithiasis-free rate between the 2 surgical techniques (76% for ureteroscopy vs. 87% for nephrolithotomy; P=.1) or in the complications (29% for nephrolithotomy vs. 27% for ureteroscopy; P=.4). A larger number of auxiliary process were needed for the ureteroscopy group (20%) than for the nephrolithotomy group (7%) (P=.04). The surgical time was longer for the nephrolithotomy group (121±52min) than for the ureteroscopy group (93±42min) (P=.004). The ureteroscopy group had shorter hospital stays (2.1±1.6 vs. 3.9±1.9 days; P=.002), shorter convalescence (8.1±4.9 vs. 13.3±4.2 days; P=.005) and higher readmission rates (7.4% vs. 0%, P=.05) than the nephrolithotomy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nephrolithotomy and ureteroscopy have similar efficacy for treating kidney stones measuring 2-3cm, with no differences in complications. Ureteroscopy results in shorter hospital stays, quicker recoveries but more readmissions and a greater need for auxiliary procedures.
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España. Electronic address: enriquec.pieras@ssib.es.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Pieras
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Tubau
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Brugarolas
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ferrutxe
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital universitario Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, España.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Pizá
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020709:Ureteroscopes; D018666:Ureteroscopy
keywords: 2-3cm kidney stones; Flexible ureteroscopy; Litiasis renal 2-3cm; Nefrolitotomía percutánea; Percutaneous nephrolithotomy; Ureteroscopia flexible