About Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Key Highlights
-
Highly effective for large kidney stones (typically 2 cm).Minimally invasive with smaller incisions than open surgery.Higher stone-free rates compared to shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for complex stones.Shorter hospital stay and faster recovery than traditional open surgery.Allows direct visualization and removal of stone fragments.Can be performed using various energy sources (laser, ultrasonic) to break stones./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Large kidney stones (greater than 2 cm in diameter).
- Complex or branched stones, such as staghorn calculi.
- Stones that have failed treatment with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).
- Stones located in the lower pole of the kidney with an unfavorable anatomy for other procedures.
- Patients with obesity where ESWL may be less effective.
- Kidney stones causing obstruction, severe pain, or recurrent infections.
- Abnormal kidney anatomy that prevents other stone removal methods.
How to prepare
- Complete medical evaluation, including blood tests, urine tests, and imaging (CT scan or IVP).
- Discussion of all medications; may need to stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin, warfarin) several days prior.
- Informed consent process detailing the procedure, risks, and benefits.
- Fasting for 6-8 hours before the procedure as per anesthesia guidelines.
- Pre-operative antibiotics may be administered to prevent infection.
- Possible placement of a ureteral stent a week or two before PCNL in some cases to facilitate the procedure.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding, which may rarely require a blood transfusion.
- Infection or sepsis.
- Injury to surrounding organs (e.g., colon, spleen, liver, lungs).
- Incomplete stone removal, requiring additional procedures.
- Leakage of urine from the kidney (urinoma).
- Formation of a tract between the kidney and skin (fistula).
- Reactions to anesthesia.
- Damage to the kidney or its collecting system.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay typically lasts 1-3 days for monitoring.
- A nephrostomy tube may be left in place temporarily to drain urine and blood; it is usually removed before discharge.
- Pain at the incision site is managed with prescribed medications.
- Patients are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids (2-3 liters daily) to help flush the system.
- Avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and driving for 1-2 weeks post-procedure.
- Follow-up imaging (X-ray or ultrasound) is scheduled to confirm all stone fragments are cleared.
- Report any signs of fever, severe pain, or excessive bleeding to the doctor immediately.
-
Typical hospital stay: 1-3 days
-
Expected recovery time: 1-2 weeks for normal activities, 4-6 weeks for strenuous work
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering percutaneous nephrolithotomy in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for percutaneous nephrolithotomy in India include Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Cytecare Hospital, Kamineni Hospital, Tadigadapa, Miot Hospital Chennai, Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy. MediFyr helps you compare nephrologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for percutaneous nephrolithotomy compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated nephrology teams and experience managing patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
I'd been to three other doctors...
I'd been to three other doctors for this nagging pain and fatigue, and everyone just said it was stress. Dr. Sukanya was different. She actually sat and listened to the whole, messy story, asked about things no one else had, and ordered a specific test the others hadn't. Turns out it was something quite rare. She explained it to me in plain Tamil, drew a little diagram on her notepad. I felt heard for the first time, and finally had a path forward.
Nephrologists for Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Explore experienced nephrologists who regularly perform percutaneous nephrolithotomy and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 17 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road
- 17 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Medanta Hospital Gurgaon
- 17 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Metro Hospital Faridabad
- 14 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Metro Hospital Faridabad
- 10 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Medanta Hospital Gurgaon
- 10 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Medanta Hospital Gurgaon
- 10 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Metro Hospital Noida Sector 11
- 10 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road
- 9 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Medanta Hospital Gurgaon
- 8 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Medanta Hospital Gurgaon
- 4 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Miot Hospital Chennai
- 39 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 32 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 15 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 17 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake
- 34 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass
- 30 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass
- 17 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Dwarka
- 24 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Baner
- 14 Years Experience
- Nephrologist
Manipal Hospital Baner