Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL): Comparison of Tubeless versus Conventional Method in terms of Hospital Stay and Duration of Operation

Abstract

Introduction: Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is an effective treatment for large renal calculi and usually a nephrostomy tube is placed in the kidney at the end of PCNL. Objective: To compare the outcome of conventional percutaneous nephrolithotomy with postoperative PCN tube versus tubeless Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, in terms of duration of surgery and postoperative hospital stay.  Study Design: Randomized control trial. Setting: Urology Department Punjab Medical College / Allied Hospital Faisalabad.   Materials & Methods: Sixty patients were taken with non probability consecutive sampling technique. They were divided into group A(n=30) with conventional PCNL having postoperative nephrostomy tube and  group B(n=30) with tubeless PCNL by computergenerated random number table. They were compared in terms of duration of surgery and post operative hospital stay. Results: Age distribution of total patients ranged from 15 to 77 years, mean age was 35.07±15.89.  Mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 6.2±0.81and 4.07±1.2 days (p-value=00001) in group A and group B respectively. The operating time was 80 to 145, minutes, mean time 110.17±15.87 in group A. In group B, operating time was between 65 to 140 minutes mean time 95.18±22.43.  Conclusion: Tubeless PCNL reduces duration of surgery and postoperative hospital stay significantly as compared to conventional PCNL with postoperative nephrostomy tube.