A comparison of suprapubic percutaneous versus transurethral approach for the treatment of vesical stone in male patients: prospective clinical trial

Background: Urolithiasis can affect all parts of the urinary tract (kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra, and even the prostate). The disease is usually symptomatic; however, a symptomatic disease can occur in some cases; vesical stones account for approximately 5% of urinary tract calculi. Objectives: In the present study, we try to compare two different techniques for endoscopic surgical treatment of vesical stone (transurethral versus percutaneous). Materials and Methods: This work involved 37 male patients with vesical stones; those patients split into two groups, the first treated by transurethral vesicolithotripsy while Group 2 (G2) treated by suprapubic vesicolithotripsy using pneumatic lithoclast system in both groups. Patients in both groups have been compared regarding operative time, stone clearance, postoperative hematuria, hospital stay, and some other parameters. Results: There was no clinical significance regarding the sizes and the number of vesical stones between the two groups of patients. The study showed the operative time was significantly shorter in G2 than in Group (G1); in addition to that postoperative hematuria was little in G2 than in G1. Stone clearance was also significantly higher in G2 than G1. Conclusion: We conclude that the suprapubic approach is better than transurethral approach for the treatment of vesical stones in male patients due to its higher efficacy and shorter operative time.