SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF TUBELESS PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY

Abstract

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is commonly used to treat patients with complex renal calculi. Placing a nephrostomy tube is the last step after completing PNL. Significant early postoperative discomfort after percutaneous procedure is usually secondary to nephrostomy tubes. The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety of tubeless PNL. A total of 45 patients with mean age of 46.6 years entered the study. Tubeless PNL was performed in 28 patients and 17 patients were treated with standard PNL. The results of 2 groups were compared with t test. In both groups, PNL was performed successfully without any significant complication. Postoperative hospitalization in standard group was 3.71 day and in tubeless group was 1.65 day that significant statistical difference was observed (P < 0.05). Analgesic dose using in standard group was 101.56 mg (pethidine) vs 99.07 mg (pethidine) in tubeless group, with no significant statistical difference. There wasn't any organ trauma. Rate of complications, including hematuria, extravasation, fever, UTI and urosepsis, didn't have any significant statistical difference in two groups. It seems that tubeless PNL may be an effective and safe method in renal stone treatment in selected patients. In comparison with standard PNL, tubeless PNL has some benefits including reduction the length of hospitalization. Further studies on more patients are needed to determine the advantages of this technique.