Treatment of Kidney Stones Using Minimally Invasive Methods: A Study at Can Gio District Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and complications of minimally invasive interventions in the treatment of kidney stones at Can Gio District Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City from 2010 to 2023. Data were collected from patients treated with methods including extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), flexible ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy, laparoscopic stone removal, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) using various techniques (standard, mini perc, and micro perc). The results indicated that among 1,000 cases treated with ESWL, the stone-free rate was 76% after the first session, 87% after the second, and 92% after the third session, with a complication rate of only 1%, including renal colic, hematuria, and urinary infections. For 167 PCNL cases, the stone-free rate immediately after surgery was 90.3%, and 64% at four weeks as confirmed by X-ray and ultrasound, with an overall complication rate of 6.3% and an average blood loss of 0.8-1.54 g/dl. The recently introduced ultra-mini PCNL technique showed promising results in terms of high stone clearance, low invasiveness, and minimal blood loss, though data remain limited. Among 106 cases treated with flexible ureteroscopy, the immediate postoperative stone-free rate ranged from 52% to 54%, increasing to 72% to 75% after three months, with an overall complication rate of 8.75%, including urinary infections, hematuria, and postoperative pain. In conclusion, minimally invasive techniques have become the standard in kidney stone treatment, offering high efficacy, low complication rates, and significant improvements in patients’ quality of life.