Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for pediatric stone disease: Our experience with adult-sized equipment

We evaluated the outcomes and complications of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) operations performed in pediatric patients using adult-sized surgical equipment at our center. The medical and surgical records of 23 children who underwent a total of 25 PNL operations using 24 or 26 F rigid nephroscopes were evaluated retrospectively. The following aspects were considered: stone burden; duration of surgery and complications; details concerning recovery, success, residual fragments and auxiliary procedures; and follow-up details. The success rate of a single PNL session was 70.8%; with the use of auxiliary procedures this was increased to 91.6%. Perioperative and early postoperative complications were excessive bleeding and transfusion in two patients, hydro-pneumothorax in one, perforation of the collecting system in three and urinoma in one. Complications were more common in children aged