title: Balloon dilatation versus Amplatz dilatation for nephrostomy tract dilatation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we present our experience using balloon and Amplatz dilatation to establish a percutaneous tract. We also discuss advantages and risk factors of both techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 229 patients who had undergone 235 percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures. The nephrostomy tract had been dilated using a balloon (42 patients) or Amplatz (187 patients) dilator. Total operating time, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin concentrations, number of tracts required, stone burden, blood transfusion rates, tract dilatation failures, and the cost of the dilatation system were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in operative time (85.7+/-43.2 v 86.3+/-41.2 minutes; P=0.42), preoperative hemoglobin concentration (14.1+/-1.1 v 13.8+/-1.4 mg/dL; P= .153), postoperative hemoglobin concentration (11.6+/-1.7 v 11.2+/-1.5 mg/dL; P= .601), or blood transfusion rate (18.6% v 21.3%; P= .687) between the two groups. Also, there were no differences in failure rates between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Amplatz dilator is comparable with the balloon dilator with regard to efficacy, speed, and safety. The Amplatz dilator is more cost-effective than the balloon dilator. However, kidney hypermobility may be a significant problem during Amplatz dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Baskent University Medical Research and Teaching Center, Konya, Turkey. mgonen01@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gönen
authors.forename: Okan Mustafa
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Istanbulluoglu
authors.forename: Tufan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozkardes
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002404:Catheterization / Q000191:economics; D004106:Dilatation / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins