Minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy for simple and complex renal caliceal stones: a comparative analysis...

To determine whether minimally invasive PCNL (MPCNL) is as safe and effective in the management of complex renal caliceal stones as it is for simple renal stones.

We retrospectively reviewed 5761(41.2%) simple caliceal stones (isolated renal pelvis including isolated calix) and 8223 (58.8%) complex caliceal stones (renal pelvis accompanying two calices at least) that were managed by MPCNL between 1992 nd 2011. The safety, efficacy, and outcome were compared and analyzed.

Stone burden was larger in complex caliceal stones (1763.0 vs 1018.6 mm(2), P<0.05). Patients with simple stones had significantly shorter operative time, less frequency of multiple percutaneous accesses, and less hemoglobin drop. They also had a higher initial stone-free rate (SFR) (77.6% vs 66.4%) after a single session of MPCNL (P<0.05). The differences diminished in the final SFR (86.7% vs 86.1%) after relook and/or auxiliary procedures (P>0.05). The complication rate (17.9% vs 19.0%) and blood transfusion rate (grade II) (2.2% vs 3.2%) were similar in both groups (P>0.05). Both groups had a low rate of high Clavien grade complications. Renal vascular embolizations (grade III), however, were significantly higher in patients with complex caliceal stones (P<0.05).

MPCNL is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with complex caliceal stones except there is a slightly higher frequency rate of embolization. There was a higher initial SFR in simple stones, but this difference diminished with secondary procedures.