Three-dimensional computed tomography planning improves percutaneous stone surgery

Abstract Objective. Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) has become the gold standard for treatment of renal stones larger than 2 cm. To optimize the surgical procedure a method for meticulous preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) planning was developed and analysed. The aim of this study was to evaluate how 3D-CT influenced the choice of access route and treatment outcome. Material and methods. Patients planned for PCNL were included in a prospective study. Decision algorithms were studied and recorded before and after 3D-CT planning in a total of 35 patients. Results. Thirty-one of the patients (88%) had a complex stone situation. The CT examinations resulted in change of access plan in 15 out of 28 patients, in addition to seven patients where access could not be planned without 3D-CT, totalling 22 out of 35 (63%). This resulted in 24 patients (69%) being stone free after a single PCNL session. Of these 24 patients, 22 (22/35 = 63%) were stone free with one dilated access track on...