Efficacy of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Pediatric Renal Stone Clearance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Renal stone disease is increasingly recognized in the Pediatric population and poses significant clinical challenges. Timely and effective intervention is essential to prevent long-term complications such as recurrent infections, renal damage, or impaired growth. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has emerged as a key surgical technique in managing moderate to large renal stones in children, but data on its efficacy and safety in the local context remain limited. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of PCNL in achieving renal stone clearance in Pediatric patients aged 5 to 15 years presenting to a tertiary care centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Urology, Institute of Kidney Diseases, Peshawar. A total of 216 children with uncomplicated, single renal stones measuring ≤8 mm, confirmed on a KUB X-ray, were enrolled through consecutive non-probability sampling. Standard PCNL was performed under general Anesthesia, and clearance was assessed postoperatively. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Chi-square test was used for associations between stone clearance and variables age, gender, stone size, site, and operative time. Results: Stone clearance was achieved in 78.2% of cases. Clearance was higher in children with smaller stones (≤5 mm) and shorter operative times, though the differences were not significant (p>0.05). No major procedural complications were reported. Conclusions: PCNL is an effective and safe procedure for treating Pediatric renal stones. While factors like stone size and operative duration may influence outcomes, further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these associations in the Pediatric population of low-resource settings.