Objectives: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is sometimes associated with complications, especially in patients with complex stones. Herein, we review our experience with PNL to determine the impact of percutaneous access number and location on success and complication rates. Patients and Methods: During a 2-year period, a total of 275 patients with a mean age of 42.3 ± 14.8 (range: 13–75) years underwent PNL. Stones were classified as simple in 51.6%, and complex (staghorn calculi or renal pelvis stones coexisting with caliceal stones) in 48.4%. Percutaneous access was done under C-armed fluoroscopy and the tract was formed with a high-pressure balloon dilation system. One single percutaneous access was sufficient in 210 (76.4%), while 2 accesses were utilized in 44 (16%), and ≧3 accesses in 21 cases (7.6%). Supracostal access was performed in 23 (8.4%) patients. Results: An overall success rate of 94.9% was achieved. Stone location, but not the access point location, was the major determinant for success, which was 99.3 and 90.2% in patients with simple and complex stones, respectively (p < 0.01). Significant complications included bleeding necessitating blood transfusion in 28 (10.2%), and hydropneumothorax in 2 (0.7%) patients. Bleeding was observed in 39.1 and 7.5% of patients managed with supracostal access, and subcostal access, respectively (p < 0.01). An increased number of access points significantly augmented the risk for bleeding. Bleeding was encountered in 7.6% of patients managed with 1 percutaneous access point, and in 18.5% of cases managed with ≧2 access points (p < 0.05). Hydropneumothorax occurred in patients with supracostal access. Conclusion: Supracostal access as well as multiple punctures may be needed especially in the management of complex stones, and the need for multiple access points and supracostal access significantly increases complication rates.

Purpose: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular disease risk factors. We assessed the impact of these medical disorders on the outcome of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Patients and Methods: Data from 430 consecutive PCNL procedures were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of serum lipid abnormalities (SLA), hypertension (HT), diabetes (DM), and obesity was investigated. Patients were determined to have the metabolic syndrome according to the definition of the International Diabetes Federation. Success rate, need for auxiliary procedures, and major complication rates of PCNL were analyzed separately for patients with or without DM, SLA, HT, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome, and were compared. Results: SLA, HT, and DM were observed in 123 (28.6%), 108 (25.1%), and 44 (10.2%) patients, respectively. Body mass index was >30 kg/m² in 74 (17.2%) patients. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 41 (9.5%) patients. An overall success rate of 96.3% for PCNL was achieved. Success rates were not significantly (P > 0.05) influenced by the presence of SLA, HT, DM, obesity, or the metabolic syndrome. Major complications were encountered in 49 (11.4%) patients and were 2.5 to 2.7 times more common in patients with DM, HT, and the metabolic syndrome. In patients with DM, auxiliary treatment alternatives were necessary in 20.5%, while they were indicated in 10.9% of patients without DM (P = 0.046). Presence of the metabolic syndrome was also associated with an increased necessity for auxiliary treatments after PCNL (P = 0.048). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the metabolic syndrome and its components (DM and HT) significantly augment auxiliary treatment and complication rates after PCNL.

ESWL and percutaneous nephrolithotomy are the primary treatment modalities for kidney stones. Furthermore, percutaneous nephrolithotomy is first line treatment when ESWL fails. We assessed how previous ESWL affects the performance and outcome of percutaneous nephrolithotomy. A total of 1,008 patients underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy between 2002 and 2007, of whom 230 (22.8%) had a recent history of failed ESWL. Patient characteristics, operative findings, success and complication rates in patients with and without a history of ESWL were analyzed and compared. In the post-ESWL group mean stone size was significantly lower and the mean +/- SD interval between the last ESWL session and percutaneous nephrolithotomy was 3.4 +/- 2.1 months (range 1 to 12). Mean operative time and fluoroscopic screening time were similar in the 2 groups (p >0.05). However, mean operative time per cm(2) stone and fluoroscopic screening time per cm(2) stone were significantly prolonged in the post-ESWL group (p <0.05). At a mean followup of 5.6 +/- 1.2 months (range 3 to 6) an overall success rate of 89% was achieved. Success and complication rates were comparable in the 2 groups. Although similar success and complication rates were achieved with percutaneous nephrolithotomy after failed ESWL, percutaneous nephrolithotomy is usually more difficult with prolonged operative time and fluoroscopic screening time per cm(2) stone due to the tissue effects of ESWL and scattered stone fragments in the pelvicaliceal system.