Preliminary, Favorable Experience with Microperc in Kidney and Bladder Stones

Abstract Purpose: In this study, we report our initial experience using microperc for treatment of kidney stones and the implications of the microperc system in bladder stone management. Patients and Methods: Microperc was performed with a 4.85F “all-seeing needle” in 11 patients with stone disease; 9 of the patients had kidney stones and 2 had bladder stones. Access to the renal collecting system was achieved under fluoroscopic control in eight patients, while ultrasonography was used in one. Fluoroscopy was not used in any of the patients with bladder stones for bladder access. Results: The mean stone burden was 12.8 mm (range 7–18 mm). The stone locations were pelvis in three, upper calix in one, middle calix in two, and lower calix in three. The mean age for kidney stones was 20.8 years (range 3–47 years). Single access was sufficient in all cases. In two patients, although the procedure was progressing without complication, conversion to miniperc was needed because of operator-related system errors. ...