[Renal function study assessed by 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy before and after PNL]

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Urology

Background:

• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is a common procedure for treating kidney stones.
• Assessing renal function post-PNL is crucial for patient management and understanding procedure-related impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional changes in the operated kidney after PNL using 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy.
• To assess the recovery of renal function in the long term following PNL.

Main Methods:

• 54 patients with unilateral renal stones underwent 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy before and after PNL.
• Renal uptake and the ratio of uptake between the operated and contralateral sides were analyzed.
• Renal function was re-evaluated at 4-8 weeks and one year post-PNL.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant decrease in DMSA renal uptake was observed on the PNL side 4-8 weeks post-procedure.
• The ratio of DMSA uptake between the PNL side and the contralateral side decreased significantly post-PNL.
• While renal function showed improvement by one year, some patients with specific imaging findings had persistent deficits.

Conclusions:

• PNL can lead to a temporary reduction in renal function on the operated side.
• Renal function generally recovers within one year, but long-term monitoring may be necessary for certain patients.
• Factors like bleeding or fever did not significantly impact the observed functional changes.