efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in renal and upper ureteric calculi

To determine the efficacy of Percutaneous Nephro-Lithotomy [PCNL] in clearance of symptomatic renal and upper ureteric calculi and study the frequency of postoperative complications associated with it. A descriptive study conducted in the Department of Urology at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences [P.I.M.S] Islamabad from 1990 to 2001. Two hundred patients with symptomatic renal and upper ureteric calculi were selected with the technique of non-probability convenient sampling. All Patients were subjected to PCNL. The data was analyzed on SPSS version 10. The mean age of patients was 37 years with a range of 18-75 years. The mean size of the stone was 2.7cm with a range of 1.5 to 3.5cm. The mean operation time was 90 minutes with range of 40 to 120 minutes. The stone clearance was successfully achieved in 194 patients [97%]. Failure was noted in 6 patients [3%]. Majority [189] of patients required only a single session for the complete clearance. Postoperative complications were recorded in 24 patients [12%]. Only 8 patients [4%] required blood transfusion, 8 patients [4%] had bacteriemia, 4 patients [2%] had prolonged ileus of more than 72 hours and 4 patients [2%] developed urinary fistula. No mortality was recorded. PCNL is a minimally invasive, effective and safe modality for the removal of renal and upper Ureteric calculi