Percutaneous laser lithotripsy for 2 patients in the Mekong Delta

Choosing percutaneous nephrolithotomy helps patients avoid traveling far, saving time and treatment costs.

Doctors are performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy for patient Thi - Photo: NGOC CUONG

On May 27, Dr. Nguyen Trung Kien - Director of Military Hospital 120 (Department of Logistics and Technology, Military Region 9), in My Tho city, Tien Giang province - said that for the first time, the hospital coordinated with doctors from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to successfully implement the percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique for 2 patients.

According to Mr. Kien, this is a step forward in health care for people in the Mekong Delta region, patients no longer have to go to Ho Chi Minh City for treatment.

The two patients who received percutaneous nephrolithotomy were Ms. Thi (57 years old, from Ben Tre ) and Mr. Liem (62 years old, from Tien Giang). Both were hospitalized with symptoms of severe renal colic.

The CT scan results showed that Ms. Thi had grade 1 hydronephrosis in her left kidney, with kidney stones measuring 13x20x17mm, and Mr. Liem had right kidney stones measuring 37x29x24mm.

After consulting with the Department of Urology - University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City and the General Surgery Department, Military Hospital 120, the doctors decided to apply percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique for both cases.

Doctor Do Anh Toan - head of the urology department at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, and also the team leader - shared that the two treatments went quite smoothly, the time to insert the needle to create a tunnel into the kidney was only about 10 minutes.

Laser lithotripsy takes about 15 minutes and intraoperative X-rays show that the stones have been completely removed.

"We then proceeded to suture the surgical wound routinely. The entire surgery took about 45 minutes. These are quite favorable cases in treating kidney stones. After surgery, the condition of both patients was stable," said Dr. Toan.

According to Dr. Kien, to perform this technique well, the hospital sent surgical doctors to receive thorough training at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City before conducting the first percutaneous nephrolithotomy at Military Hospital 120.

In the near future, with the technology transfer from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Military Hospital 120 will fully master this technology to better serve patients.

NOSTALGIA - NGOC CUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tan-soi-than-bang-laser-qua-da-cho-2-benh-nhan-o-dong-bang-song-cuu-long-20250527114301797.htm