ElSheemy MS, et al. - Mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (Mini-PNL) was compared with standard-PNL for the treatment of renal stones. With markedly reduced complications and hospital stay, mini-PNL vs standard-PNL had significantly lower but clinically comparable stone free rate (SFR). Furthermore, most of the cases could be performed tubeless. With multiple stones or large stone burden (>2 cm²), there was a significant difference in SFR, which was not found with single stones or stone burden ≤2 cm².

• Between March 2010 and May 2013, a retrospective study was carried out for patients treated by Mini-PNL or standard-PNL via 18 and 30 Fr tracts, respectively, using pneumatic lithotripsy.
• For Mini-PNL and for standard-PNL, semirigid ureteroscope (8.5/11.5 Fr) and 24 Fr nephroscope was used, respectively.
• In addition to logistic regression analysis, Student-t, Mann–Whitney, Chi square or Fisher’s exact tests were performed as appropriate, to compare both groups in stone free rate(SFR), complications and operative time.
• P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

• Researchers found that mini-PNL (378) and standard-PNL (151) were nearly comparable in patients and stones criteria including stone burden (3.77 ± 2.21 vs 3.77 ± 2.43 cm²; respectively).
• They also noted that there was no significant difference in number of tracts or supracostal puncture.
• Longer operative time (68.6 ± 29.09 vs 60.49 ± 11.38 min; p=0.434), significantly shorter hospital stay (2.43 ± 1.46 vs 4.29 ± 1.28 days) and significantly higher rate of tubeless PNL (75.1 vs 4.6%) were reported for mini-PNL.
• In standard-PNL, significantly higher complications were noted (7.9 vs 20.5%; p < 0.001).
• Notably, significantly lower SFR was obtained with Mini-PNL (89.9 vs 96%; p=0.022).
• Researchers observed that this significant difference was present with multiple stones and large stone burden (> 2 cm²), but the SFR was comparable between both groups with single stone or stone burden ≤ 2 cm.
• On logistic regression, it was confirmed that standard-PNL carried significantly higher complications and SFR but significantly shorter operative time.