Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of ureteroscopic lithotripsy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy on kidney stones. Methods From January 2017 to November 2019, a total of 100 patients with kidney stones (stone diameter≤2cm) admitted to our hospital were randomly divided into a ureteroscopy group (50 cases were treated by ureteroscopic lithotripsy) and a nephrolithotomy group (50 cases were treated by percutaneous nephrolithotomy). The surgical indicators (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay), stone clearance rate, and complic?ations were compared between the two groups. Results The amount of blood loss and the length of hospital stay in the ureteroscopy group were significantly lower than those in the nephroscopy group (P<0.05), and the differences in operation time and stone clearance rate between the two groups were not significant (P>0.05). The complication rate in the ureteroscopy group was significantly lower than that in the nephroscopy group (P<0.05). Conclusion Ureteroscopic lithotripsy has the same effect as percutaneous nephrolithotomy on kidney stones with a diameter≤2 cm. However, the amount of blood loss, the length of hospital stay, and complication rate during ureteroscopic lithotripsy are lower. Therefore, it is more suitable for patients with kidney stone diameter≤2 cm.

Key words: Kidney stones, Surgery, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, Ureteroscopic lithotripsy