To compare the clinical efficacy of perfusion pump and self-designed negative pressure suction in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for the removal of kidney stones.

Clinical data of 56 patients diagnosed with kidney stones undergoing PCNL from March 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with pneumatic ballistic 18 F PCNL under the nephroscope modified by Li Xun. Thirty-two patients received PCNL using perfusion pump (traditional group) and 24 cases were treated with PCNL with a self-made "T"-shaped negative pressure suction device for kidney stone removal (modified group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, the incidence of postoperative complications, the length of hospital stay and the removal rate of kidney stones were compared between the two groups.

No statistical significance was noted in terms of intraoperative blood loss [(86±10) ml vs (87±9) ml], the length of hospital stay [(8.9±2.4) d vs (8.5±2.3) d], the incidence of postoperative complications [15.6% (5/32) vs 4.2% (1/24)] and the stage I removal rate of kidney stones [84.3% (27/32) vs 91.7% (22/24)] between the traditional and modified group (all P>0.05), respectively. In the traditional group, the operation time was (113±5) min, significantly longer than the modified group [(113±5) min vs (83±5) min, P<0.05].

During PCNL, use of the self-made negative pressure suction device can maintain the surgical field clear, effectively reduce the intra-renal pressure, shorten the operation time and retain the efficiency of kidney stone removal, which is worthy of promotion and application in clinical practice.