Simultaneous Bilateral Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

PURPOSE: We evaluate the results of simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The charts of 52 patients scheduled for simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy at the Methodist Hospital of Indiana were retrospectively reviewed. The results of the 48 patients who underwent the procedure were tabulated and analyzed. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 269 minutes and mean hospital stay was 5.6 days. Of the patients 45 were rendered stone-free (96.9% of 96 renal units) and 3 had insignificant debris (fragments less than 4 mm.) unilaterally. Complications were infrequent and included hydrothorax in 5 cases, ureteral obstruction by fragment migration in 2, hematuria causing clot retention in 2, blood transfusion in 2 and ureteral perforation with a guide wire in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a well tolerated, safe, cost-effective and expeditious approach to patients with bilateral renal calculi requiring percutaneous nephrolithotomy.