Plastic within renal pelvis on nephroscopy: a potential hazard during percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

The use of adhesive plastic drapes is common throughout laparoscopic and percutaneous surgery. We report a case in which a significant portion of the plastic drape was translocated into the renal pelvis during tract dilation for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The complication was recognized only on endoscopy and the plastic successfully removed. The potential for morbidity in other patients in the future remains, and we recommend operators be aware of this unusual, but entirely preventable, complication. We highlight some measures to help avoid and check for this complication before the end of the procedure.