1985 Volume 76 Issue 9 Pages 1314-1322
The authors experienced 175 cases of percutaneous nephrolithotomy during the last 34 months. Complete stone removal was successful in 144 cases (92%). Success rate would have been up to 99%, if we had included cases which had small residual fragments although the greater part of stones was removed.
In 121 cases (69%) any or combination of three methods for stone destruction namely intesive ultrasound, electrohydraulic effect and laser beam were successfully used to disintegrate the stones.
No severe complication was seen in this series. Therefore, the method may supersede the conventional open surgery for the upper urinary tract stones in near future.
