title: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: analysis of 500 consecutive cases.
abstract: The first 500 patients who underwent percutaneous stone removal at our hospital and who have been evaluated for at least 8 months were reviewed. Comparison of the first 100 patients with the entire series showed a sharp improvement in the success rate as the radiologic and urologic team gained experience. The success rate for simple pelvicaliceal stones was 98% in the entire series (vs. 89% in the first 100 cases) and 87% for staghorn calculi. The most common complication was bleeding, with 12% of the patients requiring transfusion. Other complications include infection (0.6%), retained stone fragments (4%), and ureteropelvic junction stricture (1%). There was 1 death, an obese diabetic woman who suffered a myocardial infarction. Successful stone extraction requires a properly placed nephrostomy tract, and radiologic and urologic expertise. The advent of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy will not abolish the need for nephrostolithotomy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography