The optimal management of large upper ureteral stones (> 1.5 cm) with infection in elderly patients: a comparative analysis of three minimally invasive surgical approaches

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of three minimally invasive surgical approaches for treating large upper ureteral stones complicated by infection in elderly (> 60 years) patients.

Clinical data from 95 elderly patients with large upper ureteral stones and infection, treated at our hospital between January 2018 and April 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical approaches included FURL (flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy) 33 cases, mPCNL (minimally percutaneous nephrolithotomy) 29 cases, and RLUL (retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy) 33 cases. Surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, reoperation rate, incidence of postoperative complications, and hospitalization costs were observed and compared among the three groups.

No statistically significant difference was found in stone clearance rates among the three groups (P > 0.05). The FURL group exhibited advantages over the mPCNL and RLUL groups in surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.05). However, it also had the highest reoperation rate and hospitalization costs (P < 0.05). RLUL demonstrated superiority over the mPCNL and RLUL groups in terms of reoperation rate, incidence of complications, and hospitalization costs (P < 0.05). Notably, mPCNL exhibited the highest complication rate at 37.9% (P < 0.05).

For elderly patients with large upper ureteral stones complicated by infection, FURL, mPCNL, and RLUL represent effective surgical approaches. Further attention is needed regarding the perioperative safety of mPCNL. RLUL, which offers higher safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness, can be considered a primary surgical option for these patients.