Percutaneous renal access: a simplified approach.
OBJECTIVE
To present a simplified surgical technique to access the kidney percutaneously with low exposure to radiation.


METHODS
This percutaneous approach to the kidney "creates" a plane of coincidence between the C-arm beam axis and the needle axis. Both axes always have the same angle running in opposite directions with the predetermined calix located in the medial vertical plane at 0 degrees. Twenty-one percutaneous access tracts were made into the lower calix and 7 into the middle and upper calices. The 3-dimensional position of the inserted needle was determined.


RESULTS
All tracts were successfully accomplished. Statistical analysis of 28 procedures revealed that the technique is reproducible. The coefficient of variation of the angle determining the entrance position of the needle was low, which indicated that the procedure is reproducible and easy to teach.


CONCLUSIONS
The technique is safe, easy to perform, reproducible, and requires less radiation than other methods.
Nuevo Hospital Civil, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Enrique
E
Mues
Jorge
J
Gutiérrez
Achim M
AM
Loske
D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*