Perioperative Respiratory Compromise in Patients Undergoing PCNL-A Case Series

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a surgical procedure which is used to extract renal pelvic stones. An optimum access tract, without traumatizing the surrounding structures, is essential for the surgery. Trauma to the surrounding structures and extra-vasation of the irrigating fluid may result in complications like hydrothorax, pneumothorax, hydro pneumothorax etc. These complications may produce intra- operative respiratory compromise leading on to arterial hypoxemia and its sequelae. A series of three case reports with review is presented here. First case is accumulation of irrigating fluid in the pleura causing hydrothorax and oxygen desaturation. Second case is extra-vasation of fluid in the abdominal wall and the patient was ventilated artificially for 24 hours. Third patient developed pneumothorax and he needed chest drainage.PCNL is done under general anaesthesia in prone position. The anaesthesiologist should be vigil enough to identify the situation and take appropriate measures to correct it.