BACKGROUND: The extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a non-invasive method in the treatment of urinary tract stones and its discovery has led to a complete change in the therapeutic strategy for urolithiasis. Due to the low morbidity and excellent fragmentation of the stones, ESWL has proven to be an effective and non-invasive method in the treatment of renal stones. AIM: The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ESWL as a monotherapy in the treatment of moderate size kidney stones with stone area (SA) of 100–300 mm². MATERIALS AND METHODS: We made a retrospective study of 98 patients with moderate size kidney stones with SA of 100–300 mm², divided into two subgroups, into a group with a SA of 100–200 mm² and with 200–300 mm², treated with ESWL in the period of November 2018–December 2019. The patients were treated with a third-generation electromagnetic lithotripter (Lithoskop®, Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany), with a source of electromagnetic shocks (Pulso™) and dual ultrasonographic/fluoroscopic system for detection of the stones. The stone location, size, maximum energy used, localization technique, number of shock waves, sessions, re-treatment rate, and additional procedures were reviewed. All the patients before the intervention had a complete laboratory and radiological examinations. Postoperatively, patients were monitored on the 1st, 30th, and 90th post-operative days. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients with solitary kidney stone with a SA of 100–300 mm² were treated with ESWL. The study included 58 men (59.18%) and 44 women (40.81%). The average length and width of the stone were 15.47 ± 2.68 mm and 12.99 ± 2.83 mm, respectively. The average surface area of the stones in our series was 203.78 ± 72.85 mm². The mean number of treatments for the entire series of patients was 1.82 ± 0.91. The mean number of shock waves for the total series of patients was 3899.11 ± 40. The mean energy used for the overall patient series was 110106.17 ± 21489.61 mJ. The total re-treatment rate was 47.95%. The entire rate of additional procedures was 19.38%. The overall success rate (SR) in our study was 77.55%. The efficiency quotient for the upper-middle and lower calyx was 55.57, 57.15, and 30.81, respectively. CONCLUSION: ESWL is a safe and effective method in the treatment of renal stones, and we recommend as the first method in the treatment of moderate size kidney stone with a surface area of 100–300 mm². The treatment of each patient should be individualized and take into account all favored and non-favored factors that influence the decision to choose extracorporeal lithotripsy as a method of treatment of medium-sized stones.

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BACKGROUND: In the age of modern medicine, thanks to the development of small-caliber nephroscope as well as various types of intracorporeal lithotripters, treatment options for renal stones have changed dramatically, and the area of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has expanded. Nowadays, PCNL is not only the first choice in the treatment of stones >2 cm, as well as complicated renal stones (staghorn stones, multiple stones, and stones associated with abnormal renal anatomy), but is also the method of optimal treatment for medium-sized stones not treated with other less invasive methods. AIM: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of PCNL as monotherapy in the treatment of renal stones larger than 15 mm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study presents a retrospectively prospective study of 14 (4 retrospective and 10 prospective) consecutive patients with renal stones larger than 15 mm treated with PCNL in the period from January 2020 to March 2020 at the GH “8 September” – Skopje. Pre-operative preparation of patients included: A history along with physical examination, a complete blood count and radiological examinations to assess the size of the stones, the anatomical features of the kidney and its function, and to accurately plan the operative approach. PCNL was performed in the prone-position; lithotripsy was performed with a double, pneumatic and ultrasonic intracorporeal lithotripter Swiss LithoClast Master with the use of the Karl Storz 24–26 fr nephroscope. Postoperatively, patients were monitored on the 1st, 7th, and 30th post-operative day, determining the demographic and clinical characteristics, the efficacy of PCNL, perioperative blood loss, the duration of the operative procedure, the duration of hospital stay, and the resulting intraoperative and post-operative complications. RESULTS: The study included eight men (57.1%) and six women (42.8%). The mean age of the patients was 52.35 ± 11.00. In 5 (35.71%) patients, the stones were localized in the left kidney, and in 9 (64.28%) patients in the right kidney. The average body mass index was 25.11 ± 3.92 kg/m². The average area of the stones was 371.24 ± 131.86 mm². Eleven (78.57%) patients had simplex stones, while 3 (21.42%) had complex stones (staghorn stones and multiple stones). The stones were localized in the renal pelvis, upper, middle, and lower calyx at 5 (35.71%), 2 (14.28%), 4 (28.57%), and 3 (21.42%) patients, respectively. The mean value of pre- and post-operative serum hemoglobin was 13.94 ± 1.00 g/dl and 11.77 ± 1.51 g/dl, respectively. The effectiveness of the procedure on the 1st post-operative day assessed by ultrasound diagnostics and kidney-ureter-bladder X-ray was 78.57%. The success rate on the 30th post-operative day after additional procedures was 92.85%. The average operating time in the entire series was 119.28 ± 9.42 min. The average hospital stay was 5.57 ± 1.11 days. The average operative blood loss was 2.19 ± 0.88 g/dl. CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospectively prospective study confirm that PCNL is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective method for removing renal stones. This method, with the development of new technologies, has an increasingly important role in the modern surgical treatment of nephrolithiasis. PCNL can also be performed in the early stages of the learning curve without compromising patient safety and treatment benefits. The procedure is safe and effective, performed even by less experienced urologists if the protocols established for this procedure are followed. This can achieve a rate of success comparable to most established standards without causing major complications.