Treatment Strategies for Kidney Stones Following ESWL Failure: A Prospective Comparative Study of Three Surgical Approaches

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Nephrolithiasis is commonly treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), but in cases of failure, more invasive procedures, like retrograde intrarenal stone surgery (RIRS), mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and PCNL, are used.However, there is limited consensus on the best approach for patients with 1-2 cm stones post-ESWL.This study provides a direct comparison of these three techniques, showing that RIRS and miniPCNL are associated with shorter hospital stays and fewer complications than PCNL, which, though quicker, requires more analgesia and causes greater hemoglobin reduction.