Lately, more and more patients who received the minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove kidney stones. But according to the new study, the complication rate of the surgery is also increased.
The procedure is called percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is performed by making a small incision in the back and use the scope to take a kidney stone hollow-sized to large.
Although the death rate associated with the procedure remains low in the 10-year study period, certain complications such as blood infections, experiencing surge. The study found that the highest risk of experiencing complications especially in those who are elderly and ill and has been treated for several years.
"We believe that the widespread use of this procedure in elderly patients and has been sick a long time may be the reason for increased complications," said one researcher dr. Khurshid Ghani from Henry Ford Hospital.
The study, published in the Journal of Urology analyzed from 80,000 patients aged over 18 years in the United States. They have gained in the PCNL procedure between 1999 and 2009. In that time, there was an increase in complications as much as 47 percent, especially among women.
The presence of other diseases also rise after the procedure during the study period, and the overall complication increased by about 12 percent to nearly 16 percent. Special note for blood infections doubled from 1.2 percent to 2.4 percent.
While the procedure-related mortality rates did not change significantly, from 0 to 0.4 percent. The study found that deaths occurred in elderly patients.