ages of the patients who underwent conventinal PNL, mini-PNL, or mini-ECIRS were 53.5, 47.3, and 59.3 years, respectively. The mean sizes of the stones were 38.8, 42.2, and 37.8 mm, respectively. RESULTS: The mean operation times for conventional PNL, mini-PNL, and mini-ECIRS were 134, 184, and 118 min, respectively, including patient positioning. The stone-free rates were respectively 48%, 37%, and 84% after the first treatment and 61%, 63%, and 91% after the second early treatment using SWL or ureteroscopy. The stone-free rate with mini-ECIRS was significantly higher than those in the other groups. The overall rates of complication with ureteral injury, severe bleeding, and postoperative fever were 28%, 5%, and 18%, respectively. All the patients who underwent mini-PNL and mini-ECIRS did not require blood transfusions.CONCLUSIONS: Mini-ECIRS can be considered a safe, effective, efficient, and versatile procedure for stone removal because it is associated with a high one-step stone-free rate and allows a good view and enough irrigation. The thinner diameter of the tract dilation when using mini-tract reduces the possibility damage to the renal vasculature. We believe that mini-ECIRS is one of the effective options for the treatment of renal stones, including staghorn calculi.
