Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the gold-standard treatment for large and complex renal stones. Though associated with higher stone-free rates compared to other minimally invasive stone procedures, this comes at the expense of increased morbidity including postoperative pain and discomfort. We describe our enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for PCNL with emphasis on the use of erector spinae plane blocks to improve patient satisfaction and reduce postoperative opioid use and bother.
Keywords: ERAS; PCNL; multimodal pain control; regional anesthesia.