Objective To compare the clinical therapeutic effect of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and flexible ureteroscope lithotripsy (FUL) for unilateral lower-calyceal calculi with the diameter of 10-20 mm. Methods The clinical data of 65 patients with unilateral lower-calyceal calculi with the diameter of 10-20 mm were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty cases were treated with PCNL (PCNL group), and 35 cases were treated with FUL (FUL group). The operative time, success rate of lithotomy, haemoglobin decrease after operation, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization expenses and complication were compared between 2 groups. Results Treatment was completed successfully in the patients of 2 groups, without ureteral perforation, avulsion and other serious complications intraoperatively and postoperatively. There were no statistical differences in success rate of lithotripsy, incidence of high fever after operation and postoperative analgesia rate between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operative time and hospitalization expenses in FUL group were significantly higher than those in PCNL group:(95.27 ± 22.69) min vs. (62.25 ± 20.73) min and (17 242 ± 2 679) yuan vs. (14 205 ± 1 654) yuan, and the haemoglobin decrease after operation and postoperative hospital stay time were significantly lower than those in PCNL group:(0.67 ± 0.33) g/L vs. (7.98 ± 4.33) g/L and (3.75 ± 0.78) d vs. (6.54 ± 1.68) d, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). Conclusions For the treatment of lower-calyceal calculi with the diameter of 10-20 mm, the success rates of lithotripsy of PCNL and FUL are similar. FUL has less trauma, with shorter postoperative hospital stay time, but the cost is relatively high.

Objective To compare health related quality of life (HRQOL) between modified and traditional cutaneous ureterostomy, and explore the reasons for these differences, in order to provide the basis of HRQOL for the choice of cutaneous ureterostomy. Methods A total of 53 patients underwent cutaneous ureterostomy were selected, and the patients were divided into traditional cutaneous ureterostomy group (traditional group, 21 cases) and modified cutaneous ureterostomy group (modified group, 32 cases) according to the surgery method. The patients were evaluated by functional assessment of cancer therapy-bladder (FACT-BL), and the HRQOL was compared between 2 groups. Results There were no statistical differences in HRQOL score at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months after surgery between 2 groups (P>0.05). The HRQOL score at 12 months after surgery was significantly higher in modified group than that in traditional group:(141.5 ± 10.4) scores vs. (123.1 ± 5.2) scores, and there was statistical difference (P<0.01). There were no statistical differences in the scores of physiology status, society/family status, emotional state and functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) at 12 months after surgery between 2 group (P>0.05). But the scores of functional status and bladder cancer special scale (BSS), total score of FACT-BL in modified group were significantly higher than those in traditional group:(26.0 ± 2.5) scores vs. (23.8 ± 3.5) scores, (46.7 ± 6.2) scores vs. (34.8 ± 5.5) scores, (143.9 ± 15.7) scores vs. (117.5 ± 8.1) scores, and there were statistical differences (P<0.01). Conclusions The HRQOL at 12 months after surgery in modified cutaneous ureterostomy is better than that in traditional cutaneous ureterostomy. Therefore, if the patient's physical condition permits, priority should be given to modified cutaneous ureterostomy to reduce the complications and improve the quality of life.