New methods for the treatment of renal calculi : the St. Luke’s Hospital experience

Abstract

The last decade has seen extraordinary advances in the management of urinary tract calculi. With the introduction of minimally invasive techniques, like percutaneus nephrolithotomy (PCN), and non-invasive ones, like extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), major surgery for urinary tract calculi is becoming obsolete. The indications, methodology and complications of these techniques are briefly discussed. The results of the first fifty PCNs carried out by the Department of Urology and Urological Endoscopy at St. Luke’s Hospital, Malta are described. A 90% success rate with no mortality is claimed. During the same period open surgery for renal calculi was less than 5%.