Doppler ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy with two-step tract dilation for management of complex renal...

To report our experience and assess the safety and efficacy of Doppler ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with 2-step tract dilation for complex renal stones.

From March 2009 to February 2011, 262 patients underwent PCNL. Eighty-three patients had a complete and 105 had partial staghorn calculus, and 74 had a renal pelvic stone of >2 cm in diameter. Thirty-five patients had renal surgical history. Doppler ultrasound-guided PCNL with 2-step tract dilation were performed. Stones were fragmented and cleared using a combination of ultrasonic and pneumatic lithotripters.

All PCNL procedures were successful. Successful access to the collecting system was 100%. Although most of the cases (231/262) were managed satisfactorily by a single tract, a second tract was used in 31 cases. Mean operation time was 56 minutes (range 25-145). The primary stone-free rate of PCNL was 80.9%. There were 39 auxiliary procedures (13 second PCNL and 26 extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy). One month after treatment, the overall stone-free rate was 92.7%. Five patients (1.9%) received blood transfusion. Eight patients (3.1%) with a postoperative fever of ≥38.5°C were cured by intravenous antibiotics. No other severe complications occurred. The mean postoperative stay was 3.8 days (range 2-12).

Doppler ultrasound-guided PCNL with 2-step tract dilation for complex renal stones is safe, effective, and worthy of wider use in clinical practice.