[Percutaneous renal surgery]

Analysis of complications resulting from the renal percutaneous approach.

Between 1990 and 1996, 175 percutaneous surgical procedures were performed by our group. In 69.2% cases, the reason was a lithiasic condition. We also carried out: 35 endopyelotomies, 12 renal cyst resections, 4 stenosis of uretero-ileal anastomosis, 2 diagnostic nephroscopies and 1 pyelic tumour resection.

Total rate of complications was 22.2%. Mortality was 0.5% (one case). Surgery had to be terminated in 13 cases for different reasons. Blood transfusions were required in 9 cases. 3 cases of route perforation required extended maintenance of nephrostomy. Infectious problems developed in 9 cases. There were also 2 renocutaneous fistula, one renocolic fistula and one pneumothorax. No significant differences were found between the total number of complications and the type of treatment carried out. There is however a relationship between the lithiasic condition and the haemorrhagic complications and also with the failure of the approach. There are no significant differences between the number of complications and other variables such as age, sex, side, calix approached or duration of surgery.

The percutaneous approach to the kidney can be considered as a technique with a low morbidity-mortality ratio.