Effect of Irrigation Solution Temperature on Complication of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomized Clinical...

Many factors affecthypothermia and shivering during percutaneous nephrolithotomy and in recovery.Hence this study was carried out to determine the effect of irrigation solution temperature on complications ofpercutaneous nephrolithotomy.

In this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients undergoing PCNL in Sina University Hospitalwere enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned in three groups according to simple random manner. Thegroups included three groups of room temperature fluid (24 degree), warm solution (37 degree), and cold fluid (20degree) during nephroscopy.

Although the initial core temperature was alike across the groups (P > .05); the hypothermia rate occuredin all 20 patients in the cold fluid group (P = .012). There was significant difference between the groups interms of final temperature and alteration amount (P = .001). The mean VAS scores were significantly lower in thewarm fluid group compared with the others groups at recovery, and 8hrs post-operatively (P = .03). Assessmentof shivering rates revealed that 3(15%) patients in warm solution group shivered compared to8 (40%) patients incold fluid group (P = .018).

Warm irrigation solution during PCNL results in significantly decreased hypothermia, mean postoperativepain score and shivering. Hence use of warm irrigation fluid for this matter is recommended.