What is pcnl (Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy )?

Pcnl or percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a treatment for stones in the kidneys or the upper ureter that are too big to pass through the system naturally and do not respond to other treatment techniques such as Shock Wave Lithotripsy or Laser Ureteroscopy. PCNL surgery is minimally-invasive and thereby causes minimal pain or discomfort to the patient.

MGM Hospital CBD provides PCNL surgery through their team of skilled urologists and surgeons. The hospital uses advanced technology and equipment to ensure safe and effective treatment for patients with kidney stones.

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Symptoms

Contact our MGM hospital if you experience any of the following pcnl (percutaneous nephrolithotomy )symptoms:

  • Nausea and occasional vomiting.
  • Pain within the first 24 to 48 hours in your kidneys, abdomen, lower back and sides. Pain may increase when you urinate.
  • Blood in your urine.

Causes

With the assistance of our medical experts, pcnl (percutaneous nephrolithotomy ) is performed for the following causes at our MGM hospital:

  • The stone is very large and can't pass on its own.
  • You're in a lot of pain.
  • The stone is blocking the flow of urine out of your kidney.

Risks

The medical staff at our facility takes important measures to reduce the risks connected to pcnl (percutaneous nephrolithotomy):

  • Bleeding.
  • Infection.
  • Injury to the kidney or other organs
  • Incomplete stone removal.

Prevention

Our medical staff at the MGM hospital has taken the following actions to prevent pcnl (percutaneous nephrolithotomy):

  • Avoid lifting heavy objects or indulging in strenuous activities for a couple of weeks after the surgery.
    • Minor discomfort and pain is normal after this surgery.
    • Your doctor will prescribe some pain-relieving medicines to help you manage the discomfort.
    • If you notice bleeding or other abnormalities, make sure you get in touch with your doctor immediately.
    • Drink ample fluids to help small fragments of stones flush out of the system naturally.

How is it diagnosed?

Our medical staff performs the following tests at MGM hospital: As with any other surgery, the doctors suggest some diagnostic tests before PCNL surgery. These tests help them determine the size and number of stones and rule out underlying diseases or conditions that might affect the efficacy of the procedure. MGM Hospital CBD provides the following diagnostic procedures for PCNL surgery:
•CT scan
•Ultrasound
•Urine test
•Blood tests

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How is it treated?

At MGM Hospital CBD, the treatment for PCNL surgery is provided by highly skilled and experienced urologists using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques.

If you notice blood or thick clumps of ketchup-like blood in your urine or drainage tube, go to the emergency department.

Before the procedure

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is usually performed in the hospital under general anesthesia. With general anesthesia, you won't be awake for the procedure and you won't feel any pain.

During the procedure.

To start the procedure, a specialized needle is inserted into a urine-collecting chamber of the kidney (calyx). The path of this needle becomes the passage for performing the rest of the procedure.

Needle placement

A Urologist with specialized training in this procedure uses X-ray, CT or ultrasound images to guide the placement of the needle. The needle placement may occur in the operating room or in the radiology department.

You may have a flexible tube (catheter) passed through the urethra, bladder and ureter into the kidneys. The urethra is the tube where urine exits the body. The ureter is the tube connecting a kidney to the bladder. Through this catheter, your doctor can put a specialized tracer substance into the kidney that outlines structures inside the kidney so that they're more visible during imaging. Or, a tiny camera may be threaded through the catheter, which allows your doctor to see the needle as it's placed in the kidney and other work during surgery.

Specialized instruments

The surgeon place a tube (sheath) along the path of the needle. Using specialized instruments that pass through the sheath, the surgeon breaks up the stones and removes them.

Nephrostomy

The surgeon may then place a different tube, called a nephrostomy tube, in this same passageway. The nephrostomy tube allows urine to drain directly from the kidney into a bag worn outside the body during recovery. For complicated cases, this tube also leaves access to the kidney if more kidney stones or fragments of kidney stones need to be removed during the recovery time.

Kidney stones

The kidney stones are sent to a lab to check what types of stones they are. Knowing what type of kidney stones you have may help your care provider suggest ways to prevent future stones.

After the procedure

You may stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days after the procedure. You may need to avoid heavy lifting and pushing or pulling for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. You may be able to return to work after about a week.

Emergency department.

If you have drainage tubes in the kidney left after surgery, you'll need to watch for any bleeding. If you notice blood or thick clumps of ketchup-like blood in your urine or drainage tube, go to the emergency department.

Our Experts

Dr. Piyush Singhania

Urologist
15 Years Experience

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Dr. Aditya Nayak

Nephrologist
14 Years Experience

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Dr. Nishant Khatale

Urologist
7 Years Experience

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