Percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
SpecialtyNephrology

A percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL, PCN, or PNL) is a minimally-invasive procedure to remove stones from the kidney by a small puncture wound (up to about 1 cm) through the skin. It is most suitable to remove stones over 2 cm in size or which are present near the pelvic region. It is usually done under general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia.

Since their development in 2000, PCNLs have become the standard treatment for complex and large kidney stones, and have largely obviated the need for open surgical procedures.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.