COMPARISON OF TWO-STEP DILATION VERSUS STEP BY STEP DILATION IN MINIMAL PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY

Objective To investigate minimizing dilation times of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in treating large renal stones. Methods A total of 105 consecutive patients undergoing minimal PCNL by using the two-step dilation protocol ( Group Ⅰ ) and step by step dilation protocol ( Group Ⅱ )were reviewed.Two groups were compared in terms of stone size,dilating time,operation time,and blood loss. Results In all patients,the dilating of channel was finished and the success rate was 100％.The stone-free rate was 88.7％ (47/53) in Group Ⅰ and 84.6％ (44/52) in Group Ⅱ.There were significant differences in the time of dilating and the blood loss in dilating channel ( P =0.000 ).But there was no significant difference in the operation time of PCNL. Conclusion PCNL of the urinary calculi is safe in Chinese patients.Two-step dilation in PCNL has advantages of shorter dilating time and lower blood loss in different types of calculi during dilating.