Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

What is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)?
 

The recommended procedure for treating large kidney stones inside the kidney is percutaneous nephrolytomy (PCNL). It is carried out with a small cut in the skin by means of keyhole procedure. The incision in the skin is considerably smaller, allowing for faster recovery for the patient and a more secure surgery.

What are the symptoms leading to doctor’s recommending – Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)?

• Pain in the back
• Pain or burning during urination
• Nausea
• Blood in the urine
• Smelly urine

Evaluations for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) 

• Blood test
• Urine test
• X-rays
• CT scan

Treatment for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)

PCNL takes place under general anesthesia. The cystoscopy and xray dyes or carbon dioxide are instilled into the kidney by the surgeon via a small catheter via the ureter or draining tubes to track the branches of the gathering system. Thus the doctor can find the stone exactly within the kidney and put a tiny needle under x-ray supervision through the skin straight into the bone. The needle is diluted to about 1 cm, so that the stone can be directly visualized by the plastic sheath and by the telescope. The stone is broken into small parts and extracted from the body via the sheath using an ultrasonic, mechanical or laser lithotripsy device. In relation to a nephrostomy tube draining the kidney to an outside drainage bag at the end of procedure, a tiny ureteral stent may be left draining the kidney to the bladder.

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