title: Is the percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure complicated in patients with anterior caliceal stones?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to evaluate and compare the outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) for the treatment of posterior and anterior caliceal stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of 86 patients with isolated caliceal stones who underwent PNL between 2011 and 2012. The patients were classified into two groups according to the localization of the stone, either in the anterior (group 1, n = 41) or posterior (group 2, n = 45) calyx, on axial plane computed tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age, male/female ratio and stone size and location were similar in both groups. Fluoroscopy, operation time and duration of hospitalization were also similar between groups. Patients in group 1 had a greater postoperative hemoglobin drop than patients in group 2. Blood transfusion was required for 5 patients in group 1 and for 4 patients in group 2. In addition, open conversion was required for 2 patients in group 1 during the early postoperative period because of extensive bleeding. Hemodynamics were stabilized with angioembolization in 2 patients with prolonged hematuria in group 1. The overall success and complication rates were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the postoperative hemoglobin drop did not significantly differ between groups, hemorrhaging was more severe in patients with anterior caliceal stones than in those with posterior caliceal stones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey. akadirtepeler@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tepeler
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Berkan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Resorlu
authors.forename: Mesrur Selcuk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Silay
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozyuvali
authors.forename: Cevper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ersoz
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akman
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armagan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unsal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007670:Kidney Calices / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins