title: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in infants: evaluation of a single-center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in infants (<3 years) with renal calculi.
  
  
  METHODS
  From November 2005 to August 2010, 20 renal units with calculi in 19 infants (13 boys and 6 girls) were treated with PCNL at our institution. Mean age of infants was 20.6 months (range, 7-36 months), the mean stone size was 2.2 cm (range, 1.9-3.1 cm). All PCNL procedures were performed with 14 to 16F percutaneous access and 8/9.8F rigid ureteroscope. Stones were fragmented with a pneumatic lithotripter and evacuated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean operative time was 77.5 minutes (range, 35-120 minutes). Stones were completely removed in 85% of kidneys (17 of 20 kidneys) after the first session and 95% (19 of 20 kidneys) after a second look PCNL procedure. No patients required a blood transfusion. Evaluation of the renal function before and after the PCNL procedure demonstrated the stabilization of corresponding glomerular filtration rate in the treated kidney (48.2 ± 3.7 vs 50.4 ± 5.2 mL/min; P = .22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When performed by experienced endourologists, PCNL is a safe and effective procedure in infants for the removal of renal calculi.
authors: Department of Urology, Minimally Invasive Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China. gzgyzgh@tom.com
authors: Guohua
authors: G
authors: Zeng
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: Zhijian
authors: Z
authors: Zhao
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Yuan
authors: Wenqi
authors: W
authors: Wu
authors: Wen
authors: W
authors: Zhong
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies