Advances in tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy and patient selection: an update

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the gold standard for the treatment of large renal calculi. Recently, modifications to the standard PCNL with nephrostomy tube placement have evolved, most notably the introduction of tubeless PCNL. Tubeless PCNL appears to decrease postoperative discomfort and shorten hospital stays, without increasing complication rates in the appropriately selected patient population. Urologists have attempted to expand the role of tubeless PCNL in more complex clinical scenarios, including pediatric and geriatric patients, and in stones complicated by multiple access tracts, renal anomalies or previous renal surgery. In an attempt to further improve outcomes following tubeless PCNL, adjunct interventions such as the use of hemostatic agents along the percutaneous access tract and local tract anesthetic have also been evaluated. We report the most recent published data over the past year, reviewing the employment and efficacy of tubeless PCNL, and discuss the selection of appropriate patients for this modified procedure.