The clinical research of 1,470 nm laser in percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the primary method for the treatment of renal calculi. The preservation of the nephrostomy tube after operation brings severe pain to the patients. We use a 1,470 nm semiconductor laser to stop bleeding after the operation, which cannot reserve the nephrostomy tube, fully reflect its safety and effectiveness, and provide a new method for clinical practice.

Forty-two patients with renal stones who came to our hospital from March 2016 to September 2019 were randomly divided into two groups: laser operation group (20 patients) and traditional operation group (22 patients). The stone removal rate, surgical effect, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

There was no significant difference in the stone clearance rate between the two groups at the 4th week after operation (P>0.05). However, the incidence of postoperative infection, incision pain, and massive bleeding in the laser surgery group were lower than those in the traditional surgery group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in urine extravasation and postoperative hematuria between the two groups (P>0.05). The average postoperative hospital stay in the laser surgery group was shorter than that in the traditional surgery group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Simultaneously, there was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and medical expenses between the two groups (P>0.05).

The 1,470 nm laser is safe, effective, and feasible in PCNL operation, especially in hemostasis of the renal puncture channel, and it is worth popularizing.