Objective: To investigate the intra- and postoperative hemorrhage of percutaneous nephrolithotomy via the standard nephrostomy tract.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted among 1578 patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. During the operations, all the nephrostomy tracts were dilated to F24 size after successful puncture. The stones were shattered and removed by EMS lithotrity system.
Results: All the patients showed intra- and postoperative hemorrhage, and in 121 cases, blood transfusion was needed. In 18 patients, the operation had to be terminated for severe hemorrhage. The 8 patients with repeated bleeding were managed and cured by blood transfusion and medication. In another 2 cases, severe hemorrhage was found to result from false aneurysms by renal arteriography and managed by superselective embolization.
Conclusion: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy through standard nephrostomy tract is safe and does not increase the risk of bleeding with careful operation.