[Ultrasound guided percutaneous nephrolithotripsy]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL) is a common treatment for kidney stones.
• Large renal pelvic stones pose treatment challenges.
• Minimizing radiation exposure during PNL is a key concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided PNL for large renal pelvic stones.
• To compare outcomes between combined ultrasound/radiological guidance and ultrasound-only guidance.
• To assess complications, blood loss, and hospitalization duration.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 138 patients undergoing PNL for stones >2.2 cm.
• Group 1: Combined ultrasound and radiological guidance (n=70).
• Group 2: Ultrasound-only guidance (n=68).
• Comparative analysis of surgical metrics and complications.

Main Results:

• Successful percutaneous access in all patients.
• Similar complication rates between groups (14.3% vs 14.7%).
• No significant differences in PNL effectiveness (95.7% vs 94.1%), blood loss, or hospital stay.
• No transfusions or adjacent organ injuries reported.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound-guided PNL is effective for treating large renal pelvic stones.
• Ultrasound-only guidance is a viable alternative, reducing radiation exposure.
• This technique is suitable for patients requiring a single laparoscopic approach.