Standard versus Tubeless Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Tertiary Care Centre: A Randomized Control Trial

Nephrolithiasis is a common health problem usually presenting as acute complication. Objective: This study was aimed to know the comparative outcomes of the standard tube PCNL and tubeless PCNL in our population. Methods: It was a prospective randomized controlled study conducted in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar; Urology Department consisting of 100 patients randomly selected who underwent percutanatous nephrolithotomy dividing into two groups; group 1 underwent through standard PCNL and group 2 underwent through tubeless PCNL. All the data were analyzed through SPSS version 20. Means and standard deviations of the quantitative variables and frequencies and percentages of the qualitative variables were determined. Results: There was no significant difference in the demographics of both the groups. The mean operation time, hospital stay in group 1 (standard PCNL) were 86.06 ± 7.20 and 6.46 ± 0.97 respectively while the mean of operation time, hospital stay in group2 (tubeless PCNL) were 83.68 ± 3.81 and 3.42 ± 0.81, respectively. The mean of visual analogue scale scores for pain in group 1 and group 2 were 6.24 ± 0.71 and 3.70 ± 0.81, respectively. There as significant difference in the VAS score of both groups. Post operative complications were less seen in the tubeless PCNL. Conclusions: The tubeless PCNL is a safe technique having short operation time and statistically significant short hospital stay and low Visual Analogue Scale score for pain post operatively. Tubeless PCNL is associated with less post operative complications as compared to the standard PCNL.