Objective: To describe Paediatric Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in terms of safety and efficacy in a group of 26 children.
Study design: An observational study.
Place and duration of study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 2011 to June 2013.
Methodology: PCNL of 26 children was done by standard technique. The patients were analyzed for age, gender, presenting symptoms, stone size, site, PCNL approach, operative time, stone clearance, hospital stay and per-operative and postoperative complications. Descriptive statistics were obtained.
Results: The mean age was 9.21 ±5.70 years. Seventeen (65.4%) patients were male whereas 9 (34.6%) patients were female. Flank pain was the most common presenting symptom. Mean stone size was 2.21 ±1.04 cm. Mean operative time was 158.8 ±39.63 minutes and mean hospital stay was 2.84 ±1.14 days. Postoperative transfusion was required in only one case (4%). There was no episode of sepsis or perinephric collection. Per-operative stone clearance was 93.28% ± 9.23%. Conversion to open was seen in one (4%) case. DJ stent was placed in 7 (27%) cases.
Conclusion: PCNL is a safe and effective way of treating renal stones in paediatric age group.