This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages without signing in

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a technique that may be used to remove stones from the kidney or upper ureter. It avoids the morbidity of an open procedure.

A needle is passed through the skin into the renal pelvis under ultrasound or radiological guidance. A guide-wire is then threaded through the needle into the kidney to create a track. Using graduated dilators, the track is then enlarged to a diameter of approximately 30 mm. The stone may then be removed immediately or following drainage for 48 hours with a nephrostomy tube.

Small stones can be removed through the nephrostomy track under direct vision using special nephroscopes and a variety of grasping instruments. Stones larger than the tract must be fragmented prior to removal, either with ultrasound or electrohydraulic probes.


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.