The long term outcomes of patients with residual stones are not inferior to those with stone free after percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Purpose: To investigate the long term outcomes of residual stones after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) stone.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty four PCNLs performed at our hospital between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2010 with related image follow up for at least 4 years were enrolled in this study. The outcomes we reviewed included stone progression, pyelonephritis, renal function deterioration and subsequent stone related procedures. We compared the outcomes of PCNLs with residual stones (group 1) to those without residual stones (group 2).

Results: The stone progression rates in two groups were 37.5% and 53.3%. (p = 0.125) The pyelonephritis rates in two groups were 0% and 3.3%. (p = 0.301) The renal function deterioration rates in two groups were 3.1% and 0%. (p = 0.089) The rates of subsequent stone related procedures in two groups were 53.1% and 54.3%. (p = 0.905) The subsequent ESWLs rates in two groups were 43.8% and 32.6%. (p = 0.257) The subsequent URSLs rates in two groups were 3.1% and 19.6%. (p = 0.026). The subsequent PCNLs rates in two groups were 15.6% and 13.0%. (p = 0.715)

Conclusion: The long term outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with or without residual stone were not significantly different in our study.