Complications of Standard Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy versus Tubeless Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

Objective: To compare grade I complication as per Clavien-Dindo classification in patients undergoing standard (with tube) verses tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Study design: Hospital based randomized control study. Place and Duration of Study: Urology Clinic, Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation Karachi from 3rd June 2016 to 2nd December 2016. Methodology: Seventy four patients (37patients) in each group were enrolled. In group 1 patients, a 20 F nephrostomy tube were placed in the kidney over the guide wire, which was removed later. Group II patients had antegrade placement of a Double-J stent without nephrostomy and the wound compressed for 5min. The demographic like age, gender and complications grade I complications according to Clavian-Dindo classification were noted. Results: The mean age was 49.42±7.06 years. There were 46 (62.16%) males and 28 (37.84%) females. There was no significant difference in stone clearance rate between the groups; 91.9% in standard percutaneous nephrolithotomyg roup and 94.6% in tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy group. Need for analgesics for pain control was high in standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy group 86.5% versus 64.9% in tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy group (p=0.03). Frequency of urine leakage was 18.9% in standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy group and only 2.7% in tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy group (p=0.02). Conclusion: Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure has fewer complications as per Clavien-Dindo classification regarding need for analgesics and urine leakage. In suitable cases, the tubeless procedure can be safely used as the standard for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Keywords: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), Clavien-Dindo classification, Complication