Supracostal percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A prospective comparative study

INTRODUCTION: A widely prevalent fear of thoracic complications with the supracostal approach has led to its underutilization in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We frequently use the supracostal approach and compared the efficacy and thoracic complications of infracostal, supra 12(th), and supra 11(th) punctures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of patients who underwent PCNL between January 2005 and December 2012. The patients were divided into three groups based on the access: infracostal, supra 12(th) (between the 11(th) and 12(th) ribs) and supra 11(th) (between the 10(th) and 11(th) ribs). Clearance rates, fall in hemoglobin levels, transfusion rates, perioperative analgesic requirements, hospital stay and thoracic complications were compared. RESULTS: Seven hundred patients were included for analysis. There were 179 (25.5%) patients in the supra 11(th) group, 187 (26.7%) patients in the supra 12(th) group and 334 (47.8%) patients in the infracostal group. The overall clearance rate was 78% with no difference in the three groups. The postoperative analgesic requirements were significantly higher in the supracostal groups and showed a graded increase from infracostal to supra 12(th) to supra 11(th). During the study period, only 2 patients required angioembolization (0.3%) and none required open exploration. The number of patients requiring intercostal chest drain insertion was extremely low, at 1.6% and 2.2% in the supra 12(th) and supra 11(th) groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the feasibility of the supracostal approach including punctures above the 11(th) rib, albeit at the cost of an increase in thoracic complications. Staying in the line of the calyx has helped us to minimize the most dreaded complication of bleeding requiring angioembolization.