[Current controversies on the treatment of urinary lithiasis]

With the discovery during the 1960s of an access to the renal sinus and intra-operative radiological monitoring, the lithiasis surgery reached its summit of technical perfection. A comparative study on the various therapeutical options is presented: NLP, URN, ESWL and open surgery, as the single or combined treatment in complex renal lithiasis. Also, intrasinusal and transparenquimatous accesses to the intrarenal tract are compared, evaluating the morbidity, surgical time and economical interpretation of both techniques. Establishment of each treatments' indications and contraindications as well as likely short- and long-term adverse effects of the new technologies.