Background and purpose: The creation of the nephrostomy access is a fundamental step of percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL). Dilation of the track is usually achieved with multiple incremental flexible exchange dilators of the Amplatz type, metal telescoping dilators of the Alken type, or a balloon. Currently, balloon dilation is regarded as the most modern and safest system, though it has the disadvantage of relatively high cost. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that a procedure that we named "one shot," which consists of a single dilation of the track with a 25F or 30F Amplatz dilator, compares favorably in terms of efficacy, costs, and length with the other techniques of track dilation, without a significant increase in morbidity.
Patients and methods: Seventy-eight consecutive patients who underwent PCNL for stone disease from June 1998 to July 1999 were considered and divided into three groups according to the type of tract dilation used: A (Alken telescoping dilators), B (balloon), or C (one shot). Radiologic exposure, blood loss, and costs were evaluated.
Results: The one-shot procedure compared favorably with both of the other dilation techniques without an increase in morbidity and with significant reductions in X-ray exposure and costs. Indeed, significant differences in estimated blood loss were observed between groups B and C and the minor bleeding for group C.
Conclusion: Our experience indicates that one-shot dilation is feasible in the majority of patients. It is as safe and effective as the technique regarded today as the gold standard but less time consuming and less expensive. These encouraging results should be confirmed by further studies.