Study population
We retrospectively analyzed the data of 784 patients with upper urinary tract stones who successfully received FURSL in our unit from January 2015 to October 2020. Prior to operation, all patients received the routine assessment which included medical history inspection, routine blood test, coagulation parameters, urine analysis, serum creatinine, electrocardiogram, ultrasonography, intravenous urography, compute tomography scan of abdomen and pelvis. The stone burden was measured based on the maximal diameter of the stone on non-contrast CT in all patients. Appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis was administered pre-operatively and intra-operatively according to the patient’s positive urine culture results, and adequate control of urinary tract infections was confirmed by urine culture before surgical management. Prophylactic antibiotic including quinolones or cephalosporins was administered pre-operatively and intra-operatively to patients with negative urine culture results. All operations were performed by surgeons of the same seniority.