The application of minimally invasive endoscopic surgery to cure the flying personnel with intractable upper urinary tract stones

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of minimally invasive endoscopic surgery in the treatment of intractable upper urinary tract stones for flying personnel. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of pilots who accepted minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for intractable upper urinary tract stones at our hospital from June 2006 to October 2014. Results All patients are male, aging from 24 to 50 yr. There were 13 cases of ureteral calculus and 13 cases of renal calculus. The CT scan showed that the long diameter of the stones ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 cm. All ureteral calculus patients were hospitalized because of renal colic. Renal calculus patients' stones were found in routine health examination and there were no flank pain, urinary irritation symptoms and hematuria. Ureteral calculus patients were cured by ureteroscopic lithotripsy and recovered. Ten renal calculus patients were cured simply by flexible ureteroscopy. One renal calculus patient was cured simply by percutaneous nephrostolithotomy and 2 were cured by flexible ureteroscopy combine percutaneous nephrostolithotomy. All patients were qualified for flying after the surgeries. Conclusions The minimally invasive endoscopic surgery can cure the intractable upper urinary tract stones of flying personnel effectively and safely. The proper treatment would avoid flying personnel's grounding and enable them to continue their flight career. Key words: Endoscopy; Urinary calculi; Surgical procedures, minimally; Lithotripsy; Aircrews