Analysis of clinical outcomes of Tubeless Standard-Sized PCNL (TSPCNL) for large volume renal stones: A single center retrospective study

OBJECTIVE@#To describe the outcomes of standard-sized tubeless PCNL (TSPCNL) in terms of clinical efficacy (stone-free rate, operative time and length of hospital stay) and safety (transfusion rate, infection and complications).@*METHODS@#A chart review was done on all patients who underwent standard-sized PCNL from 2017 to 2019. All cases of TSPCNL were identified. The patient and stone demographics were analyzed including intraoperative and postoperative outcomes. Complications were analyzed using the Clavien-Dindo classification.@*RESULTS@#Seventy-nine consecutive cases of prone, single-tract, upper pole access, tubeless PCNL were identified and analyzed. The mean age was 52.74±11.26 with a female to male ratio of 1:1.4. The Guy’s Stone Score showed 12 (15.2%) Grade 1; 23 (29.1%) Grade 2, 11(13. 9%) Grade 3 and 33 (41.8%) Grade 4 renal stones. Mean stone size was 33.7±14.1mm. The stone-free rate was 98.73%. The mean hemoglobin change was 13.6±13.9 g/L. The mean creatinine change was 2.65±23 umol/L. The mean length of hospital stay was 2.46±1.84 days. Twenty-four (30.4%) experienced significant pain, which required analgesics in the form of opioid derivatives. According to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification, 6/79 (7.6%) had Grade 1; 4/79 (5.1%) had Grade 2 and 2/79 (2.5%) had Grade 3 complications. There was no mortality.@*CONCLUSION@#The authors’ experience adds to the growing evidence that TSPCNL is a reasonable, efficient and safe approach for large volume nephrolithiasis. Clear indications are needed prior to nephrostomy tube placement after standard-sized PCNL.

Comparison of totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy for kidney stones: a randomized, clinical trial

This study aimed to compare the totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy techniques regarding their rates of success and complications in patients with kidney stones. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Forty-four patients (24 men; mean age: 50.40±2.02 years) received totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL; no nephrostomy catheter or ureteral catheter after PCNL) and 40 patients (18 men; mean age: 49.95±13.38 years) underwent standard PCNL (a nephrostomy catheter and ureteral catheter were used after PCNL). All surgeries were performed by one surgeon. Postoperative changes in hemoglobin, the blood transfusion rate, changes in creatinine levels, operation time, analgesic need, hospitalization time, and complication rate were compared between the groups. No significant differences were observed in age, gender, stone size, and surgery side between the groups (P<0.05). The operation time was significantly lower in the totally tubeless PCNL group than in the standard PCNL group (P=0.005). Pethidine requirements were significantly higher in the standard PCNL group than the totally tubeless PCNL group (P=0.007). Hospitalization time was significantly higher in the standard PCNL group than in the totally tubeless PCNL group (P<0.0001). The complication rate was 15% in the standard PCNL group and 9.1% in the totally tubeless PCNL group (P=0.73). The totally tubeless PCNL technique is safe and effective, even for patients with staghorn stones. This technique is associated with decreased pain, analgesic needs, and operative and hospitalization time. We believe that a normal peristaltic ureter is the best drainage tube.

Feasibility, safety and efficacy of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a randomized controlled trial / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( PCNL).Methods Patients who underwent PCNL were randomized into 2 groups by extracting a random number generated from random number table,tubeless PCNL group and traditional PCNL group when the stones were cleared.Each patient in tubeless PCNL group was treated with insertion of a F5 ureteral double pigtail stent without placement of nephrostomy tube,while both double pigtail stent and F16 nephrostomy tube were placed in patients in traditional PCNL group.Exclusion criteria were severe bleeding requiring blood transfusion,stone residual requring a second PCNL,severe hydronephrosis with the thickness of renal parenchyma less than 5 mm,pyonephrosis,stricture of ureter or ureteropelvic junction,and severe perforation of the collecting system.A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study.Tubeless PCNL and traditional PNCL were performed in 25 patients,including 27 kidney units,respectively.The two groups had comparable demographic data.All the operations were performed by the same surgeon.Evaluation factors included postoperative pain,decreased hemoglobin,blood transfusion rate,incidence of fever and perirenal hematoma,and duration of hospitalization.Results The average visual analogue scale (VAS) score on postoperative day 1 in tubeless PCNL group was 2.24 compared with 5.04 in traditional PCNL group (P ＜ 0.01 ).The average hospital stay in tubeless PC NL group (3.04 d) was significantly shorter than that in traditioal PCNL group (6.88 d) (P ＜0.01 ).The differences in average hemoglobin drop and stone clearance in the 2 groups were not significant.The differences between the 2 groups in blood transfusion ( 1/25 in tubeless PCNL group vs 3/25 in traditional PCNL group,P ＞0.05),renal hematomas rate (6/27 in tubeless PCNL group vs 7/27 in traditional PCNL group,P ＞ 0.05) and fever rate (3/25 in tubeless PCNL group vs 4/25 in traditional PCNL group,P ＞0.05 ) were not significant.There was no incidence of urinary leakage from the nephrostomy site in the 2 groups.Conclusions Tubeless PCNL can significantly decrease postoperative pain and discomfort and shorten the duration of hospitalization without increase of complications.Tubeless PCNL is safe,effective and performable,but the contraindications such as massive haemorrhage,pyonephrosis,ureteral obstruction,severe perforation of the collecting system,residual stone requring a second PCNL,should be kept in mind.