A SINGLE CENTER STUDY ON THE EFFICACY OF PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY

Introduction: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a widely accepted minimally invasive procedure and is considered the benchmark treatment for renal stones, especially in cases involving larger or complex calculi. Its high success rate and reduced complication profile make it a preferred choice. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PCNL in patients treated at Pakistan Kidney Center (PKC), Abbottabad, Pakistan. Methodology: This prospective observational study was carried out over a period of 15 months from May 2021 to August 2022. A total of 100 patients who underwent PCNL at PKC for renal stone management were included. All patients provided informed consent and relevant clinical data were recorded using a structured proforma. Data were extracted from hospital records and analyzed for demographic details, stone location, puncture site, stone clearance rate, blood loss, and post-operative complications. Results: The mean age of patients was 32.48 years, with an average stone size of 4.25 cm³. Of the total cases, 55% had stones in the left kidney, and 45% in the right kidney. Puncture was performed in the lower pole in 79% of cases, upper pole in 15%, and mid pole in 6%. A single puncture was sufficient in 93.5% of procedures. Complete stone clearance was achieved in 83% of patients. Post-operative complications included urosepsis in 5.8% of patients, one case requiring blood transfusion, and one case of pleural injury. Conclusion: The findings suggest that PCNL is a highly effective and safe procedure for the management of renal stones when performed by experienced surgeons in a specialized center. The low complication rate and high stone clearance demonstrate its efficacy. Further multicenter comparative studies involving both government and private sector hospitals are recommended to validate these outcomes on a larger scale.