About PCNL 

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a procedure for crushing up and removing kidney stones.   

 

PCNL success

The success rate of PCNL is the highest among all kidney stone operations, ranging from 80% to 100% success for a single operation, depending on the size and structure of the stone.
 

Potential complications of PCNL

PCNL is considered a safe and highly effective surgery, but like any other surgery, there is also a risk of complications. The rate of significant complications ranges from 1% to 7%.

Complications can include blood in the urine (between 1% and 10% of the time), which requires a blood transfusion. Rarely (less than 0.5% of the time) therapeutic catheterization is needed to stop the bleeding. Any urinary tract intervention also carries the risk of contracting a urinary tract infection. The rate of a getting severe infection ranges from 0.3% to 2.5%.

When the path of entry for the procedure passes through the upper (superior) pole of the kidney, fluid may accumulate between the patient’s lung membranes, which may need to be drained.