Comparative Study Between Tubeless and Standard Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy. Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is considered to be the procedure of choice for the treatment of upper urinary tract calculi. It was first introduced in 1976, and since that the operative technique and the endoscopic equipments underwent many modifications to increase the success rates and to decrease complications.

Because of high success rate, low morbidity and complication rate, this minimally invasive modality has replaced the open surgical approach. the standard procedure is to place nephrostomy tubes within the tract of varying caliber and types.

This was done to facilitate maximal collecting system drainage, to tamponade the access tract and also securing the access in case of 2nd look PNL was needed. multiple studies demonstrate significant morbidity associated with nephrostomy tube following PNL, mainly postoperative pain that requires significant narcotic and also long hospital stay. the idea of the "tubeless" PCNL was born, whereby a nephrostomy tube is not left in place following the percutaneous procedure, but rather renal drainage is established with an indwelling ureteral stent. Tubeless PNL has been challenged by certain problems as regard the selection of the patients. Another problem that is facing the tubeless PNL may be is the question regarding the access tract and how to deal with?. Finally, Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has become the standard treatment for kidney stones and/or upper ureter, but Whether nephrostomy tube placement is necessary after PCNL is still a matter of debate