Mini-PCNL and mini-ECIRS in a solitary kidney population: a single-center experience.

Di Bello F, Bravo-Balado A, Verri P, Izquierdo P, Pujol R, Fila L, Kanashiro AK, Angerri O.

IMAbstract only — full text under license

AI summary — for doctors, generated from the abstract only

Mini-PCNL and mini-ECIRS appeared feasible and acceptably safe for stones in patients with a solitary kidney, without a measurable short-term change in renal function.

What was studied

Single-centre retrospective analysis of 658 endourological stone surgeries (2018-2025), from which 28 solitary kidney patients with 33 surgeries (18 ECIRS, 15 PCNL) were analysed at median follow-up of 15 months.

Key findings

Intraoperative complications occurred in 5 of 33 surgeries (15%) and postoperative complications in 12 (36%), with one Clavien-Dindo IIIa
Residual stones were present in 12 surgeries (36%)
No difference between preoperative and 3-month or 6-month eGFR (both p = 0.2)

Clinical relevance

For a high-stakes population where nephron preservation matters, these data support mini-percutaneous approaches in experienced hands.

Who should care

Urology

Limitations

Very small, retrospective, single-centre sample with no comparison group; stone-free rate was modest and renal function follow-up short.

Feasible and reasonably safe, but larger prospective studies are required.

This is an AI-generated summary of the published abstract, not a clinical recommendation. It may not reflect the full text or subsequent updates — verify against the original source before acting on it.

Abstract

To quantify the postoperative outcomes, namely complication rates and renal function, of mini-combined endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) or mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) within solitary kidney (SK) patients. We relied on a single-centre retrospective database including 658 patients who underwent endourological surgeries for stone treatment, between 2018 and 2025. Endpoints, namely intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and renal function were quantified. Based on a median follow-up of 15 months (IQR 6-35), 28 SK patients, for a total of 33 surgeries, were included. Out of 33 surgeries, 18 (55%) consisted of ECIRS and 15 (45%) were PCNL. The rates of SK patients who underwent surgeries ranged from 3% in 2018 to 14% in 2025. Out of all 33 surgeries, 14 (42%) were performed in Guy's stone score (GSS) ≥ III stones. Median volume of treated stones was 120 mm3 (IQR 12-305). Among 33 surgeries, five (15%) were associated with intraoperative complications and 12 (36%) were associated with postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo IIIa, n = 1, 3%). Residual stones were present in 12 (36%) surgeries. According to renal function, no differences were recorded between pre-operative and either 3-mo eGFR (p = 0.2) or 6-mo eGFR (p = 0.2). In this single-center European cohort, mini-ECIRS and mini-PCNL were feasible and safe treatment options for stones in SK patients, with acceptable postoperative outcomes. Nevertheless, larger prospective studies are needed to strengthen the current evidence.

DOI

10.1007/s00345-026-06874-4

PMID

42892643

Research metadata (titles, abstracts, authors, publication dates) is sourced from Europe PMC, which aggregates content from PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and other providers under the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM/NCBI). NLM does not claim copyright on abstracts; the original journal publishers or authors may hold rights to the full articles. AI-generated summaries are derived only from the abstract, never the full text, and are always labeled as AI-generated.

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