Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in patients with incidental encountered purulent urine at initial puncture

We are reporting the 39 patients' outcomes who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and purulent urine encountered at the initial steps of surgery. Of 873 patients who underwent PCNL, 48 had purulent fluid during the initial puncture. After excluding those at risk for infection, we studied 39 patients' preoperative and postoperative variables-including postoperative day (POD) 1, 3, 5 fevers. In group 1, 21 patients had a nephrostomy tube placed, and PCNL was postponed. In group 2, 18 patients had successful stone removal in the first session. All surgeries were successful, with no septic events during follow-up. No significant differences in preoperative variables were found. 14% and 22% of patients in groups 1 and 2 had infected fluid (p = 0.470). Four patients in group 1 (19%) and seven patients in group 2 (38.9%) had a high fever (≥ 38 C) on POD1 (p = 0.171), and 1 (5%) in group 1 and 3 (17%) in group 2 had high fever on POD 3 (p = 0.22). No patients remained with high fever on POD5. Mild sepsis was diagnosed in 9.5% of group 1 and 16% of group 2 (p = 0.820), and hospitalization time differed significantly (p < 0.001). Stone size and operation time were correlated with postoperative fever, and prolonged hospital stays were associated with positive blood cultures and postponed procedures. PCNL with proper technique and antibiotics can lead to quicker recovery and reduced hospitalization time in selected patients with pus in their pelvicalyceal system.