Frequently Asked Questions

What is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is a surgical procedure that helps in removing the large kidney stones from the body. In this procedure, the kidney stones that cannot be passed out of the body are removed. Mostly, this procedure is performed if other methods are not possible or unsuccessful. It is recommended if the size of the kidney stones are larger than 0.8 inch or 2 centimeters in diameter and are irregular in shapes.

What are the advantages of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

The following are the advantages of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy:

1. Less invasive procedure
2. Several kidney stones can be removed
3. Less pain after the surgery
4. Larger and complex kidney stones can be removed

What are the indications of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is indicated in the following conditions:

1. Kidney stones that are large and complex
2. Renal calculus [Kidney stones] that are in irregular shapes
3. Severe kidney pain
4. Recurrent urinary tract infections
5. Decreased renal function

What is the preparation for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

1. Physical examination may be performed to check the status of the patient's health condition.
2. The doctor will ask about the patient's past, present medical, and medications history.
3. Certain tests such as X-ray, intravenous pyelogram, and Ultrasound, etc.will be done to locate and determine the size and shape of the kidney stones.
4. The patient needs to inform the doctor regarding any allergies.
5. Discuss with the doctor about all the risks, complications, and benefits associated with Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

What are the steps involved in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

1. General anesthesia will be given to sedate the patient.
2. After the patient is sedated, a cystoscope is used to check inside of the bladder and urethra.
3. Then, a stent or urethral catheter will be placed on the affected area to prevent the swelling and blockage from stone fragments. It helps for easier insertion of the nephrostomy tube.
4. After this, the patient will be transferred to the recovery care unit.
5.  When the patient is awake, he/she will be transferred to the hospital room and will wait for the next step.
6. The nephrostomy tube is placed into the kidney using freezing.
7. This tube will drain urine out of the kidney.
8. Next, the surgeon will look for kidney stones and remove or crush them with the help of a nephrostomy tube.

What is the postprocedure care/recovery care for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

1. The patient may get back to their daily activities within a week after the surgery.
2. The patient should drink a copious amount of water and this helps to pass out any remaining small particles of stone while urination.
3. Take prescribed painkillers and antibiotics as directed by the doctor.
4. If any risks and complications are seen or noticed, consult the doctor immediately.
5. Make appointments for follow-ups and check-ups with the doctor after surgery.

Who can perform Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy [Right specialist type for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy]?

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy can be performed by:

1. An experienced Nephrologist
2. An experienced Urologist who has performed several successful Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy surgeries

What is the cost of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

Cost of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy depends on factors such as:

1. Admission fee
2. Doctor fee
3. Age of the patient
4. Size and shape of the kidney stone
5. The medical condition of the patient
6. Unilateral or bilateral surgery
7. Post-surgical complications that are involved
8. Type of hospital
9. The admission room that you opted for
10. Any other lab tests or examination tests such as X-ray, ECG, etc.

Minimum price in Delhi starts from Rs.47,275

Average expenses in Delhi is approximately Rs.75,280

Maximum cost in Delhi rises up to Rs.1,87,031

Cost of Unilateral Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy maybe Rs.84,000

Cost of Bilateral Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy maybe Rs.1,26,000

Is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy major surgery or minor surgery?

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy surgery is used to remove the large and irregular shaped kidney stones. It is a minor surgery as it is less invasive and has a few risks and complications than open surgery.

What is the eligibility criteria for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

People who can undergo Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy are:

1. Individuals who are suffering from severe kidney pain.
2. People who are having larger kidney stones more than 2cm in diameter.
3. Individuals with irregular shape of kidney stones.
4. People who do not get any benefit from other types of kidney stone removal.

What is the ineligibility criteria for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

People who cannot undergo Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy are:

1. People who get benefited from other types of kidney stone removal procedures such as lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, or medications.
2. Individuals with severe kidney disease.
3. People with a poor medical condition.

What are the risks and complications associated with Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

Risks and Complications associated with Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy are:

1. Bleeding
2. Infection
3. Kidney injury
4. Tissue or organ damage that is located near to the kidney
5. Incomplete kidney stone removal
6. May require additional treatments

How long does it take to complete Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy may take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete the procedure and sometimes it may take more than usual time to complete depending on shape and size of the kidney stones.

What is the recovery time?

Most of the people who undergo Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy may take up to 6 weeks for complete recovery.

What is the success rate of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

The success rate of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy depends on the following factors:

1. Age of the patient
2. The medical condition of the patient
3. Size and shape of kidney stones

However, the success rate of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy maybe 85% to 87%.

Is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy painful?

Every surgery comes with a certain level of pain and some discomfort. You won't be experiencing pain during this process because you will be under general anesthesia. There may be some discomfort and pain after completion of the procedure.

What are the long-term results of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

1. Relieves chronic kidney pain
2. Reduces blood while urinating
3. Improved kidney function
4. Decreased chances of recurrence of kidney stones

What are the options if Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy fails?

If Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy surgery fails then the doctor may recommend performing open surgery to remove the kidney stones.

What are the alternatives for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy? 

The following are the alternatives for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy:

1. Shock wave lithotripsy
2. Ureteroscopy
3. Open surgery
4. Diuretics

Know more about PCNL

What is Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy? 

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is an inpatient invasive procedure in which the surgeon removes the kidney stone(s) through a small incision in the skin. Generally, this procedure is used to remove stones larger than 2 cm or irregularly shaped stones. This procedure is usually performed when less invasive procedures are not feasible or have failed to provide the desired outcome.

The cost of this procedure ranges from Rs.75,000 to Rs.1,10,000 depending on the clinical presentation. It is performed under general anesthesia and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. 

How is a Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy performed? 

The process of PCNL involves the following steps:

1. At the outset, the anesthetist administers the required dosage of general anesthesia.
2. Once the anesthesia takes effect, the urologist inserts a cystoscope (a telescope-like instrument which is a thin tube with a camera and light on the end) to inspect the urinary bladder.
3. He inserts a tube (catheter) into the ureter to your kidney and injects a special dye through the tube which travels to the kidneys. This radio-opaque dye highlights the kidney stones on an X-ray.
4. Once the stone is located by X-ray, the urologist makes a 1.5 cm incision on your back, and through it, he accesses the kidney with an x-ray guided fine needle.
5. With the help of a guidewire, the urologist serially inserts increasing sizes of dilators up to 1 cm to create an access passage to your kidney.
6. Once the passage is created, the urologist inserts a hollow tube through which a nephroscope targeting the stones is inserted.
7. Finally, the urologist removes the stones through the scope using suction. Alternatively, the doctor may also use a grasper to retrieve the stone fragments from your body.
8. For multiple stones in the kidney, this procedure may be repeated through other access sites, if required, until all the stones are removed.

Please Note: If the stones are too large, they need to be broken into fragments and then removed. The process of breaking the kidney stones and removing them is called Percutaneous Nephrolithotripsy. 

Post the operation, a soft tube or catheter is left through the incision for a couple of days to drain the urine directly from the kidney into a drainage bag. Your recovery will be monitored closely until the catheter is removed. 

Am I eligible for undergoing the Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy procedure?

You are eligible for the PCNL procedure if:

• your kidney stones are larger than 1.5 cms.
• according to your doctor, you will not benefit by undergoing a lithotripsy procedure or cannot be effectively treated by ureteroscopy.
• you have a malformed kidney.

You are ineligible for Percutaneous Lithotomy if:

• Ongoing urinary infection
• the stone has damaged your kidney
• the stone is less than 1 cm in diameter
• you are severely obese
• you take blood thinners

Please Note: Eligibility criteria for various medical procedures differs from patient to patient and depend on their general health, medical history, and medical conditions. Please consult a doctor to know more about your eligibility or ineligibility for any medical procedure. 

What risks will I face while undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy? 

There are a number of risks associated with PCNL procedure which include:

• inability to create a large enough tract with the needle and dilator to insert the nephroscope, in which case the procedure will be converted into an open kidney stone removal surgery.
• bleeding, which may result from injury to blood vessels within the kidney.
• in cases of very large stones, the procedure may be converted into percutaneous lithotripsy, where the stones will be broken and then removed. In very rare cases, a repeat procedure might be required.
• formation of an arteriovenous fistula (a connection between an artery and a vein in which blood flows directly from the artery into the vein)
• in rare cases, there may be an injury to the surrounding organs such as the spleen, liver, lung, pancreas, or gallbladder.

How will I benefit after undergoing a Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy procedure?

For most patients with very large kidney stones the benefits of the PCNL procedure outweigh the risks:

• it is a minimally invasive procedure, which means fewer complications as opposed to an open surgery.
• multiple stones can be removed with PCNL.
• the PCNL procedure has a post-procedure stone-free rate which is greater than 97%.
• the patient experiences less post-operative pain as compared to an open surgery.
• the patient can return to his daily activities sooner when compared to an open surgery.

What are my alternatives to Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy?

The alternatives to PCNL procedure include:

• Lithotripsy
• Ureterolithotomy
• Open Surgery

What are the pre-operative guidelines I should follow for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy? 

The pre-operative guidelines which are followed prior to a PCNL procedure are:

• A complete physical examination by your doctor to ensure you are in good health before undergoing the procedure. The doctor will also ask for your medical history prior to the procedure.
• You may have to undergo blood tests or other diagnostic tests. The tests performed may include:
  • blood tests
  • an electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • a comprehensive set of metabolic tests
  • a urine test
  • tests that measure the speed of blood clotting.
• Tests are done to determine the number, location, and size of the stone(s). These may include:
  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
• Sign a consent form expressing your consent for the procedure by taking responsibility for the risks related to it. You will be made aware of any risks related to the procedure by your doctor.
• You may be asked to drink only clear fluids (chicken or beef broth, clear fruit juices, or water) for 24 hours prior to surgery, with nothing taken orally after midnight before the day of the procedure.
• Depending on the type of anesthetic or sedation to be used, your doctor may instruct you to fast before the procedure.
• Your surgeon may ask you to take a laxative the day before surgery to minimize the risk of constipation during the first few days of recovery.
• You need to inform your doctor if you have a known sensitivity or allergy to any medications, latex, tape, or anesthetic agents (local and general).
• You need to inform the doctor if you are pregnant or suffer from any heart disease.
• Let your doctor know all the medications you take (prescription and over-the-counter).
• Especially if you take any anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications, aspirin, or any other medication that affects blood clotting. Your doctor may ask you to stop taking the medicines 7 to 10 days prior to the procedure.
• Notify your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders.
• Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparations.
• If you smoke, you will be advised by the doctor to stop smoking at least a week or two prior to the procedure.
• Follow the instructions of your doctor.

What are the complications of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy? 

The complications of PCNL include:

• nausea
• fatigue
• constipation
• infection
• bleeding necessitating transfusion
• tissue injury or injury to organs surrounding the kidney such as spleen, liver, bowel, or colon, which may require emergency open surgery or further surgery.

What are post-operative guidelines I need to follow after undergoing a Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy procedure? 

The post-operative guidelines following a PCNL procedure include: 

• Promptly take all medication as prescribed by your doctor after the surgery.
• You can expect to have a small tube called a catheter attached to your back to allow urine to drain directly from the kidney into a drainage bag. The catheter typically remains in place for one to two days. If deemed necessary by your surgeon, you may be discharged from the hospital with the catheter and will have to continue wearing it for a few days.
• You will be advised to drink extra fluids to maintain good kidney health. It will help to dilute your urine. Drinking plenty of water will also reduce the chances of recurrence of kidney stones. So, make water your most frequent drink.
• You may observe blood in the urine after your open surgery procedure. This is a temporary condition which clears up after a few days.
• Post the procedure, you will be directed to do some very simple breathing exercises which will help prevent respiratory infections by using an incentive spirometry device (these exercises will be explained to you during your hospital stay).
  The exercises involve coughing and deep breathing and help prevent pneumonia and other pulmonary complications.
• On the day after your surgery, it is very important to get out of bed and begin walking with the supervision of your nurse or family member to help prevent blood clots in your legs.
• You may experience constipation for several days or weeks following the surgery. Stool softeners prescribed by the doctor can help with this problem.
• You will be advised by the doctor to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol for several weeks. Smoking and drinking alcohol can impede the healing process.

What is the recovery period after undergoing a Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy procedure? 

Most patients usually resume work 1 to 4 weeks after the procedure, depending upon the severity of their condition. Complete recovery can take up to 6 weeks.

Are the results of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy permanent? 

The results of PCNL are more or less permanent. New kidney stones may form until the underlying cause is rectified. The procedure required for the removal of the newly formed stones will be determined by your treating urologist.

How do I know if the Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy procedure I underwent is a success? 

Medical imaging is performed immediately following the surgery to assess stone clearance. If there are no signs of stones, the procedure will be determined as a success.