The role of ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy in the treatment of kidney stones.

OBJECTIVE: In our study we aimed to evaluate outcomes of ultra-mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (UMP) performed for the treatment of kidney stones.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between October 2014 and September 2015, a single surgeon performed UMP on a total of 49 consecutive patients with symptomatic kidney stones at our center. Pregnants, anticogulant users, patients with bleeding diathesis pyonephrosis, and partial/complete staghorn stones were excluded from the study. Patient characteristics, operative data and postoperative outcomes were assessed in detail.

RESULTS: The UMP was performed on 50 (34 right/16 left) renal units of the 48 (28 male/20 female) patients included in this study. The mean age and body mass index was 36.5 (2-83) years and 26.2 (17.6-32.8) kg/m(2), respectively. Mean stone size was calculated as 22.2 (10-55) mm. The mean durations of the operations and fluoroscopic examination were calculated as 65.4 (20-120) minutes and 89.4 (9-322) seconds, respectively. The mean duration of hospitalization was 1.4 (1-5) days. In 52% of the patients the procedure was terminated tubeless. Mean hemoglobin drop was 0.6 (0-3) g/dL. Our series experienced a 10% complication rate. The UMP procedure was successful in 96% of the renal units at the 1(st) month control visit assessment.

CONCLUSION: The outcomes of our study have demonstrated that UMP is an effective and safe treatment modality, especially in the treatment of medium-sized renal calculi.