Open Surgery for Urinary Stones in a Resource Poor Setting: A Look at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nigeria

Abstract

Urinary stone disease has afflicted humankind since antiquity[1]. It remains a common urological condition worldwide, including in our environment[2]. Although open surgery was previously the main option for stone removal, advances in technology mean that treatment is now largely through minimally invasive surgery, as recommended by a number of urological guidelines[3,4]. Unfortunately, at our centre, we still treat urinary stones solely through open surgery, mostly because we lack endoscopic equipment. In addition, most of our patients, even if referred to facilities where endoscopic management is possible, cannot afford the cost of treatment.