title: Safety and efficacy of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficacy of tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study conducted on 50 patients, at a specialized urology centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary success rate of the procedure in terms of stone clearance was 70%. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.44 days. There were no significant complications during or after the surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tubeless PCNL is a safe and effective modification of the conventional procedure. Absence of the nephrostomy tube may help in keeping the patient comfortable after the surgery and reduction in the length of hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Kidney Centre Postgraduate Institute, Karachi.
authors.forename: Aatif Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Khalid
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nabi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014573:Urology Department, Hospital