title: Pulmonary Complications following Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Prospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary complications may occur in the post-operative period and are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery. Complication rates vary according to different procedures and different types of anesthesia and may be affected by the patient condition. The purpose of this study was to examine pulmonary complications following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and to search for associations between the pre- and intra-operative factors and the risk of post-operative pulmonary complications (PPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective observational study of 100 consecutive adult patients who underwent PCNL surgery. We collected data of the patient, surgery and anesthesia and analyzed it to find correlations with PPC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight (8%) patients had PPC following PCNL, 7 patients had pneumothorax and 1 had atelectasis and pleural effusion. The latter patient died at post-operative day 24 due to respiratory failure. It was found that patients who had PCNL on the right kidney were at lower risk for PPC. In addition it was found that younger patients had a higher incidence of PPC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this study the most common type of post-operative complication following PCNL is pulmonary, with pneumothorax being the main complication. PPC may result in patient mortality. The side of the operation and the patient's age might affect the risk of PPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Gili
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palnizky
authors.affiliation: Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Sarel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halachmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barak
keywords: Anesthesia; Percutaneous nephrolithotomy; Post-operative Pulmonary complications