In the present study, the clinical effects of flexible ureteroscopy
lithotripsy (FURL) and
percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for the treatment of
kidney stones of ≤2 cm was studied. Seventy-two patients with
kidney stones were randomly divided into the FURL group (n=39) under
ureteroscope lithotripsy with
holmium laser and PCNL group (n=33) under PCNL with
holmium laser and compared their clinical effects. At 3 months after the operation, the stone removal rate of the FURL group was significantly higher than that of the PCNL group. The subgroup analysis revealed that the difference in the lower kidney calyx was more obvious (P<0.05) while the difference in the complex
kidney stones was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The incidence of complications of the FURL group was significantly lower than that of the PCNL group (P<0.05). The operation time and recurrence rate of the FURL group were significantly less than that of the PCNL group (P<0.05). Differences regarding the
creatinine and
urea nitrogen levels before operation, and 3 and 7 days after the operation between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Additionally, 3 and 7 days after operation, the
cystatin C levels of the FURL group were significantly higher than those of the PCNL group, and the KIM-1 levels were significantly lower than the PCNL group (P<0.05). In conclusion, compared with PCNL with
holmium laser, FURL with
holmium laser was more safe and effective in treating
kidney stones ≤2 cm. Therefore, the method is worthy of wide application in clinic.