Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: Our experience

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Nephrology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a standard procedure for kidney stone removal.
• The traditional PCNL technique involves placing a nephrostomy tube, which can lead to complications and prolonged recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the safety and outcomes of tubeless PCNL versus standard PCNL.
• To evaluate the feasibility and benefits of the tubeless approach in kidney stone treatment.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study comparing 99 patients who underwent tubeless PCNL with 110 patients who had standard PCNL.
• Tubeless PCNL involved antegrade placement of a double-J stent without a nephrostomy tube.
• Outcomes assessed included complication rates, postoperative pain, hospitalization duration, and convalescence time.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in hematocrit drop between the two groups.
• Tubeless PCNL showed statistically significant reductions in analgesic requirements (49.5 vs. 84.2 mg).
• Patients undergoing tubeless PCNL experienced less postoperative discomfort, shorter hospitalization (2.2 vs 5.3 days), and faster recovery (11.0 vs 16.5 days).

Conclusions:

• The tubeless PCNL approach is safe and does not increase complication rates.
• Tubeless PCNL significantly improves patient recovery by reducing pain, discomfort, and hospitalization duration.
• This technique is feasible for a majority of patients undergoing percutaneous kidney stone treatment.