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The role of open stone surgery
Tamer El-Husseiny1, Noor Buchholz2
1Urology Department, New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, UK.
Arab Journal of Urology
|November 12, 2015
Summary
Open stone surgery remains valuable for complex urolithiasis cases, despite advances in minimally invasive treatments like extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). A select group of patients benefits from this established surgical approach.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Surgical Management
- Nephrolithiasis Treatment
Background:
- Minimally invasive therapies like extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureterorenoscopy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) have significantly altered urolithiasis management over 30 years.
- Open stone surgery indications have narrowed, often becoming a second- or third-line option.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the current role and indications of open stone surgery in urolithiasis management.
- To highlight its importance in specific patient subgroups within the era of advanced minimally invasive techniques.
Main Methods:
- Review of current European Association of Urology and American Urological Association guidelines.
- MEDLINE search to identify relevant reports on open stone surgery indications and its evolving role.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in published papers on open renal stone surgery over the last three decades was observed.
- This decline correlates with the introduction and widespread adoption of ESWL and PCNL.
Conclusions:
- Open stone surgery retains a crucial role for a specific subset of patients with complex urolithiasis.
- Patients with anatomical/physiological anomalies or complex stone burdens can significantly benefit from open surgical intervention.
