Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is safe and effective in aging male patients: a single center experience

To assess the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in aging male patients.

Two hundred eighty-three male patients over the years of forty undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy between December 2009 and September 2014 were evaluated, retrospectively. The patients were stratified by four age groups [40-49 (group-1), 50-59 (group-2), 60-69 (group-3), ≥70 years (group-4)]. The groups were compared regarding stone size, mean operation time, mean access number, mean nephrostomy removal time, hospitalization duration, stone-free rate, and complications rate. The patients were also evaluated with regard to glomerular filtration rate levels preoperatively and in the sixth month after surgery.

Mean stone size was 810 ± 490 mm² in group-1, 840 ± 500 mm² in group-2, 845 ± 480 mm² in group-3, and 800 ± 460 mm² in group-4 (p = .02). There was no statistical difference between the four groups in terms of mean operation time, access number, hemorrhage, nephrostomy removal time, and hospital stay duration (p > .05). After additional interventions; no significant difference was detected for final stone-free rates among the groups (p = .12). A significant improvement was detected in glomerular filtration rate levels in the sixth month after surgery in all groups (p < .05).

These results indicate that percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a safe and effective method in aging male patients.