Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in pelvic kidneys: is the ultrasound-guided puncture safe?

To demonstrate our experience with the use of ultrasound (USG) for puncture guidance while performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy in ectopic pelvic kidneys.

From January 1990 to December 2013, we have performed percutaneous nephrolithotomy in 26 patients with USG-guided punctures. The stones were solitary in 15 patients (58%) and multiple in 11 patients (42%). The mean stone size was 22 mm (range, 10-50 mm), including 3 staghorn calculi. All procedures were performed in an oblique-supine position, and the intraoperative complications as the postoperative outcome were reviewed.

The mean operative time was 93 minutes, achieving complete stone clearance in 22 (88%) of the patients. One of the patients had urine leakage after removing nephrostomy, needing postoperative double J stenting. One patient had significant intraoperative bleeding requiring staging of the procedure and blood transfusion. No bowel injuries were identified. Mean hospitalization time was 5.6 days.

USG-guided puncture is a safe and effective approach to the collecting system even in renal anomalies like in pelvic ectopic kidneys when performed in experienced hands.