The supracostal approach for percutaneous nephrostolithotomy.

Sixty-nine patients underwent percutaneous nephrostolithotomy or ultrasonic lithotripsy through a nephrostomy tract placed over the 12th rib. All procedures were accomplished as a single stage in a standard operating room with patients under general anesthesia. With the exception of a single failed access the targeted calculus was removed in all instances. There were no episodes of postoperative pneumothorax or hydrothorax. One patient suffered delayed postoperative pneumonia and another patient had a delayed pleural effusion. The supracostal approach for percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is an important and safe modification of the traditional percutaneous approach to the kidney for an endourological procedure.