Effect of Obesity on Outcomes of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Renal Stone Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) has been widely used to treat renal stones. The application of PCNL in obese patients results in the emergence of a number of challenges. This study compared the effect of obesity on the outcomes of PCNL in kidney stone treatment. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eligible studies were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Data were analyzed using RevMan statistical software, weighted mean differences, ORs, and 95% CIs were calculated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Seven studies involving 2,720 normal-weight, 1,686 obese, and 286 super-obese individuals were included in this meta-analysis. A pooled analysis of safety revealed that no obvious differences in terms of complication rates after treatment existed between obese and normal-weight individuals (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.80-1.16, <i>p</i> = 0.73), and between super-obese and normal-weight individuals (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.61-1.27, <i>p</i> = 0.49). A pooled analysis of effectiveness revealed that no obvious difference in terms of stone-free rate after treatment existed between obese and normal-weight individuals (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.84-1.15, <i>p</i> = 0.79), and between super-obese and normal-weight individuals (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.88-1.63, <i>p</i> = 0.25). Moreover, no obvious differences in terms of length of hospital stay after treatment existed between super-obese and normal-weight individuals (95% CI -0.15 to 0.37, <i>p</i> = 0.39). Additionally, no obvious differences in terms of operation time existed between obese and normal-weight individuals (95% CI -3.36 to 1.17, <i>p</i> = 0.34). However, the operation time was longer among super-obese individuals than among normal-weight individuals (95% CI -22.64 to -1.40, <i>p</i> = 0.03), and the length of hospital stay was shorter among obese patients than among normal-weight patients (95% CI 0.04-0.34, <i>p</i> = 0.01). No publication bias was observed in this work. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The PCNL performed in normal-weight, obese, and super-obese individuals for kidney stone treatment showed similar outcomes, except that operation time was longer among super-obese individuals and the hospital stay was shorter in obese individuals than in other groups. Thus, PCNL is a safe and efficacious treatment for renal stones in patients of all sizes.