Outcomes in Lower Pole Kidney Stone Management Using Mini-PCNL Compared With Retrograde Intra Renal Surgery

Due to the anatomic characteristics of the lower calyx, lower pole stones are difficult to be eliminated through the ureter, even if the stones had been fragmented. Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) can be used to deal with lower pole stones of 1.0-2.0 cm, while percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) is mainly used to deal with lower pole stones with larger diameter or when RIRS failed to resolve the stone. This study was conducted to compare mini PCNL and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for the management of lower pole kidney stones in terms of efficacy.