Percutaneous lithotripsy.

We have performed percutaneous extractions of renal pelvic stones in 194 patients via the Wolf percutaneous universal nephroscope. At 1 session, with the patient under general anesthesia, a percutaneous tract is dilated to 24F and the stone is removed immediately. We have removed 185 stones successfully by ultrasonic lithotripsy, basket retrieval and/or use of forceps. Average operating time was 54 minutes and mean hospitalization was 5 days. The advantages of this technique are that a skin incision of only 1 cm. is required to remove the stone, hospital days are fewer than with open procedures and postoperative morbidity is minimal. In selected situations this method represents a significant advance over standard open surgical procedures for removal of renal pelvic stones.