Research progress of super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the treatment of upper urinary stones
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL)is an important surgical method used by urologists at home and abroad to treat upper urinary tract stones.In recent years,super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy(SMP),as a minimally invasive modification of PCNL,has shown many advantages,such as the smaller channel of SMP,equipped with a working sheath that allows simultaneous manipulation and perfusion,and intraoperative negative pressure suction device,thereby reducing the intrarenal pressure and speeding up stone removal.Partial or even complete tube-free can be achieved after the operation.Compared to traditional PCNL,SMP is less invasive and can reduce patients'postoperative pain,shorten hospital stay,and speed up recovery.With the continuous im-provement and maturity of SMP technology,it becomes a hot spot in domestic and foreign researches.Its indica-tions are also expanding,so it is expected to become an important means for the treatment of various upper urina-ry tract stones.This article reviews the recent studies on the use of SMP in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones.