Safety and efficacy of ultrasonography as an adjunct to fluoroscopy for renal access in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).
OBJECTIVE
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasonography (US)-guided renal access in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), as compared with conventional fluoroscopy-guided renal access in a prospective randomized trial.


METHODS
• From January 2008 to October 2009, 224 patients with renal calculi undergoing PCNL were randomized into two groups. • Group 1 (112 patients) underwent PCNL using only fluoroscopy-guided renal access; while in group 2 (112 patients), US guidance for puncture was used in addition to fluoroscopy. • The inclusion criteria were: normal renal functions, American Society of Anesthesiology scores 1 or 2, absence of congenital abnormalities, aged 15-70 years, and anticipated single-tract procedure. The patients in both groups were matched for age, sex, and stone characteristics. • The Student t-test was used for statistical analysis with an allowable error of 5%.


RESULTS
• The mean time to successful puncture was 3.2 min and 1.8 min in group 1 and group 2, respectively (P < 0.01). • The mean duration of radiation exposure to successful puncture was 28.6 s in group 1 and 14.4 s in group 2 (P < 0.01). • The mean numbers of attempts for successful puncture in the desired calyx was 3.3 in group 1 as compared with 1.5 in group 2 (P < 0.01). • The meantime taken for tract formation in group 1 was 7.4 min with radiation exposure of 82 s, while in group 2 it took 4.8 min with radiation exposure of 58 s (P < 0.01). • Successful access was achieved in all patients. All patients were stone-free at the end of the operation. The hospital stay (2-3 days) was same in both groups. There was no incidence of significant bleeding requiring transfusion during or after surgery. All the patients were followed-up for a ≥ 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
• US-guided puncture in PCNL helps in increasing accuracy of puncture and decreasing radiation exposure for the surgical team and the patients.
Department of Surgery, SN Medical College, Agra, India. dr.agarwal.mayank@gmail.com
Mayank
M
Agarwal
Madhu S
MS
Agrawal
Abhinav
A
Jaiswal
Deepak
D
Kumar
Himanshu
H
Yadav
Prashant
P
Lavania
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult