Experience of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Patients with Older Age / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) preformed in patients aged 65 years or older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the data of 26 PCNL, performed on 25 patients aged 65 years or older (mean 68.7), and compared the data with those of another 127 PCNL procedures on 123 patients, aged under 65 years, performed at our clinic. RESULTS: The presence of staghorn calculi (6 of 26 renal units [23.1%] versus 41 of 127 renal units [30.7%], p=0.44) and the average stone size (29mm versus 26mm, p=0.19) were similar for the 2 groups. The success rates (stone-free patients and patients with residual stones <4mm) were similar, being 80.8% for the elderly group and 84.2% for the younger patients (p=0.66). The transfusion rates for the 2 groups were similar, 15.4% in the elderly group versus 11.8% in the younger group (p=0.61). No serious complications or deaths were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PCNL is a safe, effective and less invasive therapy for the treatment of elderly patients with complex stone diseases.