Nephrolithotony: Percutaneous removal of renal calculi

Abstract

The development of percutaneous nephrostomy has laid the foundation for a major advance in the treatment of urolithiasis: the percutaneous removal of renal and ureteral calculi (i.e., nephrolithotony). With the use of a variety of instruments, calculi can be either removed intact or, if too large, fragmentedin situ and then extracted. The method has wide applicability; more than 90% of all upper urinary tract calculi can be successfully treated. Length of hospitalization and costs are comparable to or less than those for open surgery; however, the period of convalescence is only 2–7 days. Continued advances in fluoroscopic technology and endoscopic instrumentation will enable the urologic surgeon to treat the majority of urinary tract conditions using endourologic techniques.