The Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Global Study: Tract Dilation Comparisons in 5537 Patients

The study focused on the use of balloon or telescopic/serial dilation methods in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the Global PCNL Study. Centers worldwide provided data from consecutive patients who were treated with PCNL during a 1-year period. Tract dilation was performed using a balloon or telescopic/serial dilator. Patient characteristics, perioperative complications, and treatment outcomes were assessed by the treating physician. Postoperative complications were graded according to the modified Clavien grading system. A total of 5537 eligible patients were entered in the database from November 2007 to December 2009, including 2277 (41.1%) who received balloon dilation and 3260 (58.9%) who received telescopic/serial dilation. The predominant method used was telescopic/serial dilation in Asia (94.7%) and South America (98.0%), and balloon dilation in North America (82.6%). In Europe, the rates of balloon (50.7%) and telescopic/serial (49.3%) dilation procedures were similar. The rates of bleeding (9.4% vs. 6.7%), blood transfusions (7.0% vs. 4.9%), and drop in mean hematocrit level (4.5% vs. 2.5%) were higher in the balloon vs. telescopic/serial dilator group. Clavien scores II and IIIA were slightly in favor of the telescopic/serial dilator group. Median operative time was longer in the balloon dilation group (94.0 min vs. 60.0 min). The Global PCNL Study has identified differences in the method of dilation used between centers in Asia, Europe, and the United States. In the balloon dilation group, a total longer operative time and higher bleeding and transfusion rates were observed. The differences in outcome may be influenced by patient heterogeneity, including previous anticoagulation therapy or surgical procedures, in addition to the number of stones treated and rate of staghorn calculi, which were all higher in the balloon group.