Factors affecting complications according to the modified Clavien classification in complete supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Perioperative Outcomes of Supine versus Prone Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Objective: To compare the perioperative outcomes of supine and prone percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Methods: A retrospective search of a tertiary medical center database yielded 517 patients who underwent supine (n = 91) or prone (n = 426) PCNL between September 2015 and July 2020. Data on demographics, baseline clinical parameters, and stone burden were included as predictors in a logistic regression model, generating a set of propensity scores. Seventy patients after supine PCNL were propensity score-matched 1:1 with patients after prone PCNL and compared for operative time, perioperative complications, system complexity, and stone-free rate. Results: We found that the operative time was significantly shorter in the supine PCNL group than in the prone PCNL group (85.5 ± 25.2 min vs. 96.4 ± 25.8 min, respectively; p = 0.012). The majority of both groups had low-grade (I-II) complexity systems (85.6% and 88.6%, respectively), with no significant difference among all grade groups (p = 0.749). There were no significant differences between the supine and prone PCNL groups in terms of the overall perioperative complication rate (8.6% vs. 4.3%, respectively; p = 0.301) or stone-free rate (74.3 vs. 65.7%, respectively; p = 0.356), while the rate of blood transfusion was significantly higher in the supine group (p = 0.023). Conclusions: In our study, we used propensity score matching to compare patients who underwent PCNL in the supine or prone position, adjusting for selection bias. Supine PCNL was associated with a shorter operative time but a higher blood transfusion rate, with no differences in the overall complication and stone-free rates.

Association Between Preoperative Blood Glucose Level and Hospital Length of Stay in Patients With Kidney Stones Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Aim

To assess the effect of preoperative blood glucose (POBG) levels on the length of stay (LOS) in patients with kidney stones undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent PCNL at the Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University from 2013 to 2019. The relationship between POBG level and LOS was investigated by dose-response analysis curves of restricted cubic spline function.

Results

We included 310 patients and divided them into three groups (<5.04, 5.04 to <6.88, ≥6.88 mmol/L) according to the POBG levels. Patients with POBG levels ≥6.88 mmol/L (adjusted odds risk [aOR] 1.67; 95% CI 0.83–3.33) had a 67% higher risk of LOS > 2 weeks than patients with POBG levels <5.04 mmol/L. A positive dose-response analysis curve was observed between POBG and the adjusted risk of LOS >2 weeks. Similar results were observed in the subgroups analysis.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that higher POBG levels were significantly associated with longer LOS in patients with kidney stones undergoing PCNL.

Patient positioning during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: what is the current best practice?

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the gold standard procedure for treatment of large stones and complex kidney disorders, but its morbidity remains the highest among stone treatment procedures. In pursuit of minimizing complication rates, surgeons have developed different variations of the classic prone position in which PCNL is usually performed; one among them is supine position. In this study, we review the literature and present all available evidence on different variations in positioning during PCNL, in an effort to identify if there is a position that can minimize the morbidity of this procedure.

Costs variations for percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the U.S. from 2003-2015: A contemporary analysis of an all-payer discharge database

INTRODUCTION

We sought to evaluate population-based costs variations and predictors of outlier costs for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the U.S.

METHODS

Using the Premier Healthcare Database, we identified all patients diagnosed with kidney/ureter calculus who underwent PCNL from 2003-2015. We evaluated 90-day direct hospital costs, defining high- and low-cost surgery as those >90th and <10th percentile, respectively. We constructed a multilevel, hierarchical regression model and calculated the pseudo-R² of each variable, which translates to the percentage variability contributed by that variable on 90-day direct hospital costs.

RESULTS

A total of 114 581 patients underwent PCNL during the 12-year study period. Mean cost in the low-cost group was $5787 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5716-5856) vs. $38 590(95% CI 37 357-39 923) in the high-cost group. Cost variations were substantially impacted by patient (63.7%) and surgical (18.5%) characteristics and less so by hospital characteristics (3.9%). Significant predictors of high costs included more comorbidities (≥2 vs. 0: odds ratio [OR] 1.81; p=0.01) and hospital region (Northeast vs. Midwest: OR 2.04; p=0.03). Predictors of low cost were hospital bed size of 300-499 beds (OR 1.35; p<0.01) and urban hospitals (OR 2.77; p=0.01). Factors less likely to be associated with low-cost PCNL were more comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI] ≥2: OR 0.69; p<0.0001), larger hospitals (OR 0.61; p=0.01), and teaching hospitals (OR 0.33; p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our contemporary analysis demonstrates that patient and surgical characteristics had a significant effect on costs associated with PCNL. Poor comorbidity status contributed to high costs, highlighting the importance of patient selection.

Single lower calyceal percutaneous tract combined with flexible nephroscopy: A valuable treatment paradigm for staghorn stones

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of single lower calyceal tract combined with flexible nephroscopy for the management of staghorn renal stones by percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the management of staghorn stones were analyzed. We included patients aged >18 years, while patients with incomplete data and renal anatomical anomalies were excluded from the study. Stone-free rate, postoperative complications, procedure duration, fluoroscopy time, and length of hospitalization were recorded. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated by non-contrast computed tomography scan 4-6 weeks after the operation. Stone-free status was defined as the absence of residual stones >4 mm.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of 103 consecutive patients. Stone-free rate was 65.0%. No complications were observed in 69.9% of the cases; most postoperative complications were Grade 1 (13.6%) and 2 (10.7%). Five patients (4.9%) suffered a Grade 3a complication and another patient (1.0%) suffered a Grade 3b complication.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy through a single lower calyceal tract combined with flexible nephroscopy can be a valuable treatment option for the treatment of staghorn calculi, providing efficacy and safety. Nevertheless, the present study is limited by both its retrospective nature and being conducted at a single centre and, thus, proper prospective studies with head-on comparisons are needed to prove or disprove the advantages and disadvantages of either approach.

Tubeless versus standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy in pediatric patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:

This systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the post-operative outcomes between tubeless and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) among children.

Methods:

Literature searches were performed following the Cochrane guidelines. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis that included three trials investigating the outcomes including the length of hospital stay, operation time, hemoglobin decrease, blood transfusion rate, perirenal fluid presence, post-operative fever, stone clearance rate, and the need for a second operation.

Results:

The patients who underwent tubeless PCNL had shorter length of hospitalization compared to standard PCNLs (mean difference -1.57, 95% confidence interval -3.2 to 0.07, p = 0.06). No significant decrease was detected in hemoglobin after tubeless PCNL compared to standard PCNL (mean difference 0.05, 95% confidence interval -0.03 to 0.13, p = 0.21). There were no significant differences in operation time (p = 0.7), perirenal fluid presence (p = 0.15), post-operative fever (p = 0.72), stone clearance (p = 0.68), and the need for a second operation (p = 0.90).

Conclusions:

This study showed no significant difference between tubeless and standard PCNLs in children. However, due to the lack of data, the results should be mentioned prudently. Future randomized trials with more sample sizes and longer follow-ups are warranted.