Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: One Stage or Two?

Abstract

Two hundred and fifty cases of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) are described. One hundred and fifty cases were treated in two stages, 100 in a single stage. The one-stage method has been shown to be as safe as the two-stage method but should be reserved for those with experience of the technique and who possess adequate instrumentation. PNL has proved to be a preferable option to open stone surgery and a useful alternative to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).