Abstract Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is regarded as the main treatment for large and/or complex renal stones. Supine position, especially the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position, is being increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to the prone position in PCNL due to various benefits of this position. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess and evaluate the percentage of patients who are rendered free of stones and any complications that may occur in patients with renal calculi and who underwent supine PCNL. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective interventional clinical study of 71 adult patients who underwent supine PCNL in a 1-year period for renal calculi. Patients with pregnancy, bleeding diathesis, and urinary tract infection were excluded from the study. All patients underwent the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position. Stone composition and size were assessed preoperatively. Patients were assessed for being free of stones or not using a noncontrast computed tomography scan done after 4 weeks of surgery. Complications were assessed using the Clavien–Dindo classification of complications. Statistical analysis of data was done using statistical software. Results: The average age of the patients included in this study was found to be 51 years ± 10.42 years, and 66.2% of the patients were male. Flank pain was found to be the most common symptom, accounting for 52.1% of the patients. The average size of the stones was found to be 19.6 mm ± 5.2 mm, and the most common location of the stones was the renal pelvis, accounting for 42.3% of the patients. The average operative time taken for the procedure was 93.8 min, and tubeless PCNL was carried out in 52.1% of the patients. A stone-free rate of 95.8% was achieved, and auxiliary procedures were required for three patients. Complications occurred in 4.2% of patients, and these were minor in nature, including Clavien–Dindo grades I and II. Conclusion: The supine PCNL technique, carried out in the Galdakao-modified supine Valdivia position, is found to be safe and effective for the treatment of kidney stones. This technique has several advantages, including high stone-free rates, low postoperative complications, and several advantages during the operation, thus making it suitable for use in the present day.
Safna et al. (Thu,) studied this question.