Efficacy and Safety of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Outcomes from a Tertiary Care Center

Background: The management of renal stone disease in the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a challenging scenario, both in terms of surgical safety and perioperative outcomes. The aim of the present study is to study the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in patients with CKD. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted including adult patients with renal stone disease and a creatinine clearance of <90 mL/min (Stage 2 CKD or more) who underwent PCNL. Pre- and postoperative serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were compared. Patients were divided into CKD Stages 1 to 5 having creatinine clearance >90 mL/min, 60 to 90 mL/min, 30 to 60 mL/min, 15 to 30 mL/min, and <15 mL/min, respectively. Based on up migration or down migration of CKD stages, patients were classified as improved, deteriorated, or stable. Perioperative complications and outcomes were also compared. Results: A total of 185 patients with CKD Stage ≤2 underwent PCNL. The mean age of the patients was 43.24 ± 14.32 years. The mean preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 62.88 ± 23.42 mL/min/1.73 m2. Preoperative CKD stage distribution was as follows: Stage 2 to 121 (65.4%), Stage 3 to 34 (18.4%), Stage 4 to 24 (13%), and Stage 5 to 6 (3.2%). On last follow-up of patients, the mean creatinine was 1.07 ± 0.65 mg/dL and the mean eGFR was 82.75 ± 31.22 mL/min/1.73 m2. The median change in creatinine and mean change in GFR were 0.23 (0.16-0.27) g/dL and 19.87 ± 19.77 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Improvement in kidney function with a stage down migration was seen in 115 cases (62.2%), slight improvement with no change in stage in 69 cases (37.3%), and deterioration of CKD stage was present in one case (0.5%). Conclusion: PCNL is associated with favorable functional outcomes in CKD patients including severe CKD (Stages 4 and 5). Improvement or stabilization of CKD stage was seen in 99.5% of patients post-PCNL.