PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN FLUOROSCOPY-ASSISTED ULTRASOUND AND FLUOROSCOPY GUIDED PUNCTURE IN MINI-PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY IN PEDIATRICS.

Urolithiasis is a common genitourinary disease affecting an increasing proportion of pediatric population each year for which multiple lines of treatment have emerged. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy has been the gold standard in management of large portion of kidney stone for decades now.Although the procedure is easily applicable with excellent results, it exposes the patient to several hazards, one of them in radiational hazards which are not only dangerous to the patient, but the treating staff as well considering the repeated exposure especially in high volume centers.Ultrasound guided puncture used in tandem with fluoroscopy has been described as an effective method for achieving intrarenal access with effective results and the potential to decrease the exposure to radiation for both the patient and the medical staff.Several studies applied fluoroscopy assisted ultrasound guided puncture demonstrating comparable results to using only fluoroscopy in intrarenal accessزTHE AIM:The aim of this study was to compare fluoroscopy-assisted ultrasound and fluoroscopy only guided puncture in mini-PCNL according to different intraoperative variables, short term complications and stone free rate.