Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy

PCNL is performed under general anaesthetic (completely asleep).

The surgery generally takes between 1 to 3 hours.

It is a minimally invasive procedure where a small cut is made in the back to access the kidney.

A hollow tube is passed through the skin into the kidney, this allows other instruments to be inserted into the kidney to remove the stones.

To visualise the stones, ultrasound or x-ray is used during the operation. Instruments are used to visualise, fragment and remove the stones via the tube.

At the end of the procedure, you may be left with a drainage catheter (nephrostomy) inserted into the kidney, which exits the back and drains into a bag.

Alternatively, you may have a stent (a plastic tube that is inserted into the ureter (the tube from the kidney to the bladder). These tubes assist with the drainage of urine from the kidney.

If you have a nephrostomy tube it is usually removed prior to you going home. A stent may be left in for 2-6 weeks. It will need to be removed later and arrangements will need to be made for this.

You may have blood in the urine for about a week after the procedure or for the period the stent is left in.

You can drive when you are comfortable to do an emergency stop. This may be up to two weeks following your surgery.

You can usually return to work when you feel comfortable to do so. This may be around a week following surgery.