Early experience with percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Fifty-four percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) procedures were performed in 41 patients between May 1986 and December 1987. Six patients required more than one procedure and there was one failure which was treated by open ureterolithotomy. Most of the stones were initially found in the pelvicalyceal system, one in the lower third and nine in the middle or upper third of the ureter. There were five significant complications: one "steinstrasse" (accumulation of stone fragments in the distal ureter after the procedure), one massive perirenal haematoma, one intramural perforation by a ureteric catheter and two extravasations of irrigation fluid one of which necessitated intensive care. Most of the renal and upper ureteric stones have now been successfully removed percutaneously with good patient tolerance.