ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy(PCNL).Methods Between May 2006 and June 2008,110 patients underwent PCNL by a single urological team at our hospital.The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed.Of the cases,supracostal access(the 11th intercostal space) was made in 62 patients(supracostal group),and subcostal access was obtained in 48 patients(subcostal group).Forty-five patients in the supracostal group(45/62) and 36 of the subcostal group(36/48) received CT three dimensional reconstruction.Results The stone free rate of the supracostal group was 72.6%(45/62),while that of the subcostal group was 60.4%(29/48;?2=1.818,P=0.178).The mean operation time of the supracostal group was(78.6?5.1) min,while that of the subcostal group was(102.4?7.1) min(t=-20.454,P=0.000).There was one patient in each group received blood transfusion.One patient in the supracostal group had pneumothorax and recovered uneventfully by conservative treatments.Conclusion Ultrasonography-guided PCNL via the supracostal approach is effective and safe with short operation time.