PROCEDURES
KIDNEYS
NEPHRECTOMY
PCNL FOR STONE DISEASE
SWL FOR STONE DISEASE
URETEROSCOPY & LITHOTRIPSY FOR STONE DISEASE
PCNL FOR STONE DISEASE
OVERVIEW
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is one of the most innovative surgical treatments for patients who have large kidney stones (larger than two centimetres in diameter) that cannot be treated successfully using SWL, known as shock wave therapy or ureteroscopy.
Dr Singh may recommend a PCNL if you have been diagnosed with kidney stone disease. PCNL has become the standard surgical treatment for large kidney stones, including staghorn stones (stones that fill the kidney).
A Urologist can perform PCNL laparoscopically or through open surgery. Dr Singh will perform the surgery laparoscopically because the technique is the least invasive and offers faster recovery compared to open surgery. Before treating your large kidney stones, Dr Singh will determine whether you are an appropriate candidate for this surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery refers to a minimally invasive surgical technique performed through a very small incision on your back. A protective sleeve called a sheath will be inserted through your back and into your kidney. Dr Singh will use a small video camera called a nephroscope to locate and remove the kidney stones through the nephroscope.
Recovering from percutaneous nephrolithotomy can take a few weeks. After surgery, you will be escorted into a recovery room and monitored by Dr Singh and nurses, while you wake up from the anaesthesia. The procedure may be performed in the hospital, and you may need to stay in the hospital for at least three days.
It's important to avoid lifting heavy things or doing strenuous exercises for approximately four weeks after your percutaneous nephrolithotomy. If Dr Singh has installed a drainage tube in your kidney to drain urine and promote healing, you’ll need to monitor this tube for signs of bleeding. Dr Singh will book a check-up for you 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.