Quality of life after percutaneous nephrolithotomy for caliceal diverticulum and secluded lower-pole renal stones.
OBJECTIVE
The treatment of caliceal diverticulum and deeply secluded lower-pole stones is challenging, and the indications are controversial. This study assessed the changes in the quality of life (QoL) of patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for symptomatic caliceal diverticula and deep lower-pole calculi to determine whether there is a change in the "bother factor" in order to improve treatment strategies for this group of patients.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients undergoing PCNL were evaluated prospectively using the SF36 QoL questionnaire before and 6 weeks after PCNL. The results before and after PCNL were compared individually and by group and analyzed statistically. A P value <or=0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
Most (87%) of the patients were completely stone free after the procedure. Significant QoL findings were a reduction in symptoms interfering with performance at work (40%) and improved general health (33%). Although there was an overall improvement in QoL across the entire group, this reached statistical significance for only two of the seven domains of the questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
In spite of a high stone-free rate, fewer than half of patients benefited subjectively from the procedure in terms of improvement of QoL. Therefore, patients should be made aware of the limited impact of surgical treatment on QoL, and asymptomatic patients can be given the option of further watchful waiting.
Staios
Dimitrios
D
Endourology & Stone Service, Department of Urology, Barts & The London NHS Trust London, UK.
Andrews
Henry O
HO
Shaik
Taufiq
T
Buchholz
Noor N P
NN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D007670:Kidney Calices / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000523:psychology*; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires