Safety and efficacy of the supracostal access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy: our initial experience

A case of bleeding shock induced by injury of the intercostal artery following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy

Introduction

The risk of postoperative bleeding complications should be concerned to perform percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. Most of the vascular injuries occurred at the peripheral renal artery in the previous reports. We experienced a case of bleeding shock induced by the injury of the intercostal artery in the abdominal wall following percutaneous nephrolithotripsy.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old woman had been in the bleeding shock status on the 2nd day after percutaneous nephrolithotoripsy. Emergently, contrast-enhanced computed tomography was performed and extravasation of contrast agents was seen in the abdominal wall. Injuries of the intercostal artery were identified in the angiography and controlled by transcatheter arterial embolization.

Conclusion

The intercostal arteries could be injured in the anterolateral zone of the abdominal wall over the end of the ribs. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography was useful to detect the bleeding point. Transcatheter arterial embolization was an effective and safe method to control bleedings from them.

A Dynamic Anatomical Description of the Parietal Pleura Setting Safety Limits for Intercostal Percutaneous Access

PURPOSE

We came up with a dynamic anatomical study intended to validate the safety of intercostal approach used by our center to access the upper pole of the kidney during percutaneous surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 101 patients presenting randomly to the radiology department for CT evaluation of the abdomen and superior pelvis were involved in this study. Deep inspiration and expiration sequences in the prone position were evaluated to establish the location of the parietal pleura in relation to different anatomical landmarks. Three-dimensional reconstruction was performed to simulate the access needle course through the retroperitoneum.

RESULTS

Our data show that the position of parietal pleura is invariably higher on the right side irrespective of anatomical relation or respiratory changes. Higher position of the parietal pleura was noted in all considered landmarks upon full expiratory sequences. Using the midclavicular line as a landmark, our data show that on the right side, the parietal pleura was higher than the 10th intercostal space (ICS) in 100% of patients. Going up to the level of the ninth and eighth ICS, the pleura is higher in 89.1% and 66.3% of patients, respectively. Moreover, on the left side, the level of the parietal pleura was higher than the 11th ICS in 100% of patients. Reaching the 10th ICS, the parietal pleura still is higher in 92.07% of cases. Going up to the ninth ICS reduces the margin to 64.35% and using the eighth ICS would convey a margin of 24.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Supracostal access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy carries a risk of pulmonary complications, limiting its use worldwide. We have shown in this study that using the differences in inspiration and expiration along with the right anatomical landmarks could substantially lower the risk of complications. However, regardless of the side or landmark used, supracostal access is safe in >90% of cases.

Supracostal Punctures for PCNL: Factors that Predict Safety, Success and Stone Free Rate in Stag Horn and Non-Stag Horn Stones: A Single Centre Experience and Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION

Supra-costal Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedure has now become an established standard of care in patients with renal stone disease, in terms of morbidity, stone clearance, duration of stay and shorter convalescence period. Gone are the days when supracostal punctures were considered to be associated with a high morbidity. With increased expertise gained in performing multiple punctures and further refinements in focusing techniques, more and more of these procedures are being performed with an intention to achieve a maximum stone clearance with least morbidity.

AIM

To prospectively analyze the various factors that predict the safety, efficacy and stone clearance rate in patients who have undergo supracostal punctures for PCNL procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred seventy six patients underwent PCNL for renal stones. Ninety two (n=92) of them needed supra-costal puncture. All patients were subdivided into groups 1 and 2 based on the size, location of the stone and the stone burden. In all, 132 tracts were established.

RESULTS

About 83% of patients achieved a complete stone free rate after initial PCNL. Stones more than 3 centimeters were found to be associated with significant residual stones. Radio opacity under image intensifier also had a significant impact on the ultimate stone free status. About 23% of those (n=5/22) who needed longer duration of surgery had a clinically significant residual stones, needing ancillary procedures. Fifteen patients (16%) had complications related to the procedure, of which 13 were in group 1 (87%). High percentage of complications in patients with larger stone burden was found to be statistically significant. In about 76% (n=70), the procedure required only less than 90 minutes. Also, in those 22 patients in whom the duration of procedure exceeded 90 minutes, 12 of them had complications, with a p-value of <0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Supra-costal punctures are safe and effective options in a selected group of patients. The overall results are almost on par with that of the infra costal punctures, with an acceptable morbidity.

Perioperative Respiratory Compromise in Patients Undergoing PCNL-A Case Series

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a surgical procedure which is used to extract renal pelvic stones. An optimum access tract, without traumatizing the surrounding structures, is essential for the surgery. Trauma to the surrounding structures and extra-vasation of the irrigating fluid may result in complications like hydrothorax, pneumothorax, hydro pneumothorax etc. These complications may produce intra- operative respiratory compromise leading on to arterial hypoxemia and its sequelae. A series of three case reports with review is presented here. First case is accumulation of irrigating fluid in the pleura causing hydrothorax and oxygen desaturation. Second case is extra-vasation of fluid in the abdominal wall and the patient was ventilated artificially for 24 hours. Third patient developed pneumothorax and he needed chest drainage.PCNL is done under general anaesthesia in prone position. The anaesthesiologist should be vigil enough to identify the situation and take appropriate measures to correct it.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy under local infiltration anesthesia: a single-center experience of 2000 Chinese cases

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating upper urinary calculi under local infiltration anesthesia.

METHODS

A series of 2000 patients with upper urinary calculi underwent PCNL under local infiltration anesthesia. Of the 2000 patients, 536 had upper ureteral calculi, 805 patients had pelvic calculi, and 659 patients had complex renal calculi. Pethidine premedication (75-100 mg) and Phenergan (25 mg) were used half an hour preoperatively. The mean pain scores at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively, the demographic characteristics, and the stones characteristics were evaluated to determine the feasibility. The complications were evaluated to determine the safety, and stone-free rate was evaluated to determine effectivity.

RESULTS

The mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 1.55 ± 0.54 (range, 1-3). The mean operative time was 48 minutes (range, 20-125). The mean Visual Analogue Scale scores at 0, 6, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively were 3.62, 3.02, 2.27, and 2.09, respectively. The mean hemoglobin drop was 1.06 g/dL (range, 0.2-6.8). Sixty-five patients (3.3%) received transfusions, 10 patients (0.5%) required selective renal angioembolism (Clavien grade II), and 1 patient (0.05%) received chest drainage therapy (Clavien grade II). The total stone-free rate was 85.8%.

CONCLUSION

Local infiltration anesthesia is a well-tolerated alternative anesthesia technique that provides effective intraoperative and postoperative analgesia for PCNL. PCNL performed under local infiltration anesthesia in a selected group of patients is feasible and provides satisfactory clinical outcomes. Comparative studies should be performed to classify efficacy, safety, tract quantity, dilation method, and the best candidates.