Tubed vs tubeless PCNL in children.

Objective: To compare post-operative outcomes between tubeless and conventional large-bore nephrostomy tube drainage following percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children.

Methods: The study comprised 54 patients under 14 years of age who were undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy at 60 renal units and met the inclusion criteria. They were randomised to placement of a 16F nephrostomy tube (Group A, 30 renal units) or tubeless drainage (Group B, 30 renal units) at the end of the procedure. Patient age, number and position of stones, operating time, change in haemoglobin, post-operative analgesia requirement, length of hospital stay and post-operative complications were compared between the two groups, using SPSS version 17 and t test.

Results: Group A had 28 patients, while Group B had 26. The mean age in Group A was 7.2 +/- 3.2 years, and in Group B it was 6.3 +/- 3.6 years (age range 3-13 years and 1-13 years respectively). The mean size of stone was 28.6 +/- 16.7mm and 20.4 +/- 9.3mm; mean change in Hb was 0.78 +/- 0.69mg/dl and 0.63 +/- 0.54mg/dl; and the mean operating time was 54 +/- 20.7 minutes versus 66.9 +/- 22.9 minutes in the two groups respectively. There was significantly less requirement for post-operative pethidine in Group B versus Group A (p=0.01). The postoperative clearance and complications were comparable between the two groups, while the duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Group B compared to Group A (p=0.007).

Conclusion: Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children is safe and effective. Post-operative analgesia requirement is less and hospital stay is shortened compared to the conventional nephrostomy placement after percutaneous nephrolithotomy.