Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) – Surgery Procedure

PCNL:

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is a surgery to remove kidney stones that are too large to pass on their own.Doctors usually suggests Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) when other methods to pass a kidney stone are unsuccessful or not possible.

Percutaneous means that the procedure occurs through the skin

Nephrolithotomy means the removal of a calculus kidney stone from a kidney.though PCNL is a minimally invasive surgery that has fewer complications less impact on body and allows to heal than open surgery. It’s still a major surgery. Most kidney stones pass on their own and don’t require surgery. A doctor may initially suggest shock wave lithotripsy or laser ureteroscopy if have a smaller kidney stones that can’t pass on its own.PCNL is someone who can’t pass a kidney stone on their own and their stone is too big to treat with shock wave lithotripsy or laser ureteroscopy .A Urologist perform Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.They will make a small incisions in back or side’s to access kidneys and remove the kidney stones. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy has a success rate of approximately 75% to 98%.Between 2007 to 2017 Urologist performed nearly 20000 PCNLs.

PROCEDURES:

During most PCNL patient will lie on  stomach so that the Urologist can access kidneys through back.The Urologist may position patient in back (spine) or on back with a cushion under patient flank.(modified spine).The anesthesiologist will sedate patient with general anesthesia . The Urologist will make a small incisions.They will insert a protective sleeve through the incisions and into patient kidney.They will then insert a small video camera into the sheath to locate and remove the kidney stone. In some cases the Urologist may use a laser or shock wave device to break the stone to small pieces before removing it. After removing the kidney stone the Urologist may install a drainage tube or a ureteral stent.These help drain urine and promote healing.They may then uses stitches to close  skin incisions. PCNL usually takes two to four hours to perform.

ADVANTAGES:

The main advantage of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is that it removes kidney stones that don’t pass on their own or aren’t  removable with other treatments. Its also a minimally invasive procedure. Minimally invasive surgeries heal faster than open surgeries.