Status quo of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children.

Paediatric nephrolithiasis is quite challenging in terms of management because of the smaller size of the urinary tract and the bigger risk for stone recurrence. Children bear a higher risk of metabolic and infectious causes of stone disease and a longer lifetime risk for recurrence, especially in cases of residual fragments. Complete stone clearance should become the absolute objective and clinically insignificant residual fragments should be avoided. Nowadays, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) arises as a logical first-line treatment option for considerable paediatric nephrolithiasis as miniaturization of endoscopes and advances in energy sources for stone fragmentation have facilitated stone-free rates. In this review we present the evolution of PCNL in children and we demonstrate its safety and efficacy. As appropriate instruments are available and relevant surgical experience is accumulating, age should no longer exist as a limiting factor for performing PCNL.