Keyhole vs. scope: which stone surgery wins?

This study compared two common surgeries for removing large upper ureteral stones (10-20 mm): ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS), where a thin scope breaks the stone through the urinary passage, and laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (LU), where small abdominal incisions allow direct stone removal. Fifty-six adults with a single stone were randomly assigned to one procedure. Researchers measured operation time, hospital stay, pain, complications, and stone-free rate after four weeks to determine which method is safer and more effective.