RESUMO
Ambulatory percutaneous nephrolithotomy (APNL) is the mode of treatment in which patients are admitted to hospital for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and discharged smoothly within 24 hours, and the total length of hospital stay in special cases is less than 48 hours. APNL can optimize the utilization of hospital beds and upgrade patients’ satisfaction. Miniaturized channel has been applied to the preliminary exploration of APNL. The mode is often operated with paravertebral block and partial or total tubeless after surgery, which can reduce postoperative pain and shorten hospital stay. Meanwhile, the stone-free rate and postoperative complication rate are not significantly different from those of PNL. The key of successful APNL depends on strict screening of cases, and careful formulating of clinical pathways and emergency plans to standardize medical practices and improve service efficiency. This article reviews the clinical safety and efficacy of APNL and summarizes the criteria for selecting cases suitable for this mode.