Overview:
Percutaneous stone extraction, also known as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is a type of surgery used to remove kidney stones from the body using a small scope, along with instruments to pluck or vacuum the stones out. It is performed when a patient has kidney stones that are too big to pass on their own.
What to Expect:
The PNL procedure requires general anesthesia and takes approximately one to two hours. The doctor will put a tube through the bladder and up into the kidney, and will use X-ray imaging to make a puncture in the kidney. If a person has very large stones, the doctor may need to make more than one puncture.
Once the doctor has access to the kidney stones, he or she will place a sheath into the kidney and break up the stones into smaller pieces using a special instrument. When the stones are small enough, the doctor will remove them. The patient may leave surgery with a small stent that keeps the tube between the kidney and the bladder open to help with urine drainage.
After the procedure
A person may stay in the hospital for one or two days after the procedure. It is recommended that the patient avoids heavy lifting, and pushing or pulling for two to four weeks after the surgery.
The doctor will want to see the patient again after four to six weeks. During this visit, the doctor may use ultrasound or X-rays to check for any stones that may be left and to make sure that urine is draining normally from the kidney.
