Assessment of the Effects of Access Count in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy on Renal Functions by Technetium-99m-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Scintigraphy

Abstract

Objective. To determine the effects of percutaneous nephrolithotomy on renal functions by using DMSA scintigraphy while considering access counts. Material and Methods. A total of 37 patients who had undergone percutaneous nephrolithotomy were included. Preoperative DMSA scans were performed a day before the surgery, whereas postoperative scans were randomized by evaluating them before () and after () the 6th postoperative month. Twenty-six of 37 cases underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy with a single access site and 11 with multiple access sites. Results. There were no significant changes of total renal functions in the whole study group (). In the single access group, total functions were significantly elevated () In the multiple access group, while treated site functions were significantly decreased (), total functions did not change significantly (). There was an insignificant decrease in those evaluated before the 6th postoperative month () and an insignificant increase in the others (). Conclusion. We could not find a superiority of single access over multiple accesses. There is a temporary functional loss in the treated site.