Complete supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy (csPCNL) in patients with and without a history of stone surgery: safety and effectiveness of csPCNL

To determine the effects of previous stone surgery on the results of complete supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy (csPCNL), we reviewed 81 patients undergoing csPCNL at our center between March 2008 and March 2009. The principal aim in our study was whether prior renal surgery affects the outcome of PCNL. The results of the study were analyzed using SPSS 11 software. Our patients were divided to in two groups. Group 1 consisted of patients with a previous history of renal stone surgery and group 2 consisted of patients without history of renal surgery. Mean operative time in group 1 was 98.75 ± 56.31 min, and in group 2 99.71 ± 45.9 min (p = 0.93). Bleeding requiring transfusion occurred in four (14.2%) patients in group 1, and in eight (15.09%) patients in group 2 (p = 0.826). Fever was detected in no patients in group 1, and in four (7.5%) patients in group 2 (p = 0.136). Postoperative hematoma was seen in one (3.5%) patient in group 1 and in no patient in group 2 (p = 0.166). Other major complications including extravasations, sepsis, pleural effusion, pelvis perforation, and visceral organ trauma were not seen in any groups. This is the first experience of csPCNL in patients with and without a previous history of renal surgery. We found that there was no difference in results between the two groups that underwent complete supine PCNL. So csPCNL in patients with a history of stone surgery can be safe and effective. csPCNL offers the potential advantages of less patient handling, easier access to the urethra, easier possibility of changing spinal or regional anesthesia to general anesthesia if needed, better airway control and less hazard, especially for patients with compromised cardiopulmonary function, morbid obesity, or those who require a prolonged procedure and easier access to upper calyx. Its popularity is still minimal in the field of urology as a whole, because of fear of colon injury and a lack of training in this position in educational centers.