RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the causes and preventive measures for failure and complications of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL). Methods From January 2005 to October 2008,totally 353 cases of mPNCL were performed in our hospital. Among the cases,30 patients experienced failure of the surgery or postoperative complications. The data of the 30 patients were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Results Of the 30 cases,puncture failure occurred in 5 patients,while 2 of them were converted to open surgery,and the other 3 were treated by a second puncture successfully; Zebra wire extrusion was found in 5 cases,who were then cured by re-puncture or a second operation; in 3 patients,the wire or PCN tube was moved into the renal vein (2 cases) or the colon (1 case) without causing bleeding or intestinal fistula,the cases were cured afterwards by a second operation; 3 patients developed hydrothorax and then was cured by chest drainage; postoperative arteriovenous fistula was detected in 2 patients,who were cured by interventional therapy; in 5 days after the operation,one patient developed massive hemorrhage from the PCN tube when driving cars,and then recovered by clipping the PCN tube and hemostasis; another patient showed hemorrhage and infection due to extraction of the PCN tube,and open surgery was carried out to cure this patient. Conclusions Failure of puncture and Zebra wire extrusion are most common causes of failure of mPCNL. Whereas,post-mPCNL complications is often caused by unskillful surgeons or noncompliant patients.