Dilute povidone-iodine irrigation during percutaneous nephrolithotomy to reduce postoperative infective complications – Is there any benefit?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Infectious complications following stone lithotripsy is a significant source of patient morbidity and mortality. Post percutaneous nephrolithotomy fever is reported in 37% of patients undergoing PCNL and sepsis is the most common cause of mortality following PCNL. Thus, there is an urgent need to tackle lithotripsy-associated bacteremia occurring intraoperatively, keeping in mind the threat of emerging global antibiotic resistance. The aim of our study was to study the efficacy of using intermittent 0.35% dilute Povidone-Iodine (PI) irrigation during PCNL in reducing postoperative infection rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational study done in 24 patients diagnosed with Staghorn and matrix calculi requiring PCNL. All patients were taken up for the procedure with sterile urine culture or after treating them with culture-specific antibiotic with initial positive urine culture. Intraoperative pelvic urine was sent for culture and sensitivity. 0.35% dilute PI irrigation was used intermittently during the procedure. Patients were monitored and assessed for signs of post-PCNL infection and PI-related side effects. The results were compared with similar group of patients with similar stone characteristics who underwent PCNL before adopting the dilute PI irrigation protocol (non-PI irrigation group). RESULTS: Among 24 patients, 18 patients had partial or complete Staghorn and 6 had matrix calculi. Five patients with Staghorn and three patients with matrix calculi had positive renal pelvic urine culture. In the non-PI irrigation group, 19 patients had Staghorn stones and 5 had matrix calculi. Three patients with Staghorn and two patients with matrix calculi had positive renal pelvic urine culture. Three patients (12.5%) had postoperative fever in the dilute PI irrigation group, compared to 11 patients (45.8%) in the non-PI irrigation group. No patient had PI-related complications. CONCLUSION: Our prospective study highlights that the use of 0.35% dilute PI irrigation intermittently during PCNL reduces the postoperative infection rate significantly.