BACKGROUND: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the standard of care for the treatment of renal stones >2cm and staghorn calculi. This minimally invasive procedure however has intraoperative hemorrhage as one of its most dreaded complications. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the rate of hemorrhage and transfusion requirements among patients undergoing either PCNL or open stone surgery (OSS). METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute Medical Records Department. Data were collected for the period of January 2018 to December 2019. RESULTS: One hundred forty cases were included, 102 patients in the PCNL group and 38 in the OSS. The mean age 50.84±11.89 vs. 50.50±10.09 with male to female ratio of 1.2:1 for PCNL and open surgery, respectively. The most common comorbidity was hypertension (89, 63.6%). As regards stone size, majority had >4 cm stone size (61; 43.9%). In PCNL, there was no significant change noted in the hemoglobin (14.69±13.3 vs 12.03±1.91, p= 0.099) as compared to OSS, where there was significant decline (12.77±2.64 vs. 11.06±2.52; = .000. The number of packed red cell units for transfusion was also significantly higher in OSS compared to PCNL group (.526±.861 vs. 159±.502, p .020.) CONCLUSION In the treatment of staghorn calculi, PCNL incurs less blood loss and lower transfusion requirements compared to open stone surgery.
percutaneous nephrolithotomy ; blood transfusion ; hemorrhage

A 47-year-old male complained of anuria for 2 days with elevated creatinine of 14 mg/dL on admission. Patient underwent emergent hemodialysis. Non-contrast CT showed a solitary ectopic pelvic kidney with a 2 cm. pelvolithiasis and a 1 cm upper pole calyceal stone with obstructive hydronephrosis. He therefore underwent ultrasound-guided nephrostomy tube placement. Once clinically stable, the patient underwent a multi-tract supine PCNL. Intraoperatively, the authors noted tense abdominal distention accompanied by hypotension during the procedure. A diagnosis of compartment syndrome secondary to hydroperitoneum was considered. An indwelling stent and a nephrostomy tube were placed. An abdominal pigtail drain was placed removing three liters of fluid. The patient remained intubated for 3 days. He underwent blood transfusion. He required two 2 sessions of hemodialysis postoperatively. The patient was discharged in stable condition on postoperative day 22. Hydroperitoneum is a potential complication of PCNL in ectopic pelvic kidneys. Its prompt recognition, followed by immediate aspiration of intraabdominal fluid and drain placement is life-saving.
solitary kidney ; hydroperitoneum ; compartment syndrome