Outcomes of Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Children and Adolescents: A 10-Year Single-Centre Experience From Kuwait

The current study retrospectively reviewed data for all children and adolescents who underwent mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) at Ibn Sina Hospital and Sabah Al Ahmad Urology Centre in Kuwait over 10 years. Accordingly, the 40 patients underwent mini-PCNL. Among them, 21 patients (52.5%) had varying degrees of hydronephrosis, with mild to moderate severity accounting for nearly half of them, whereas six (15%) had multiple stones. The median operative time was 54.5 (43.3-64) minutes. Moreover, 11 patients needed flexible ureteroscopy (URS) and double-J (DJ) ureteric stent, and one patient required DI ureteric stent only. None of the cases developed intraoperative bleeding. The median hospital stay of the included patients was three (2.3-4) days. Residual stone was observed in 11 patients (27.5%), with a median size of 3 (2 to 7) mm. The incidence of postoperative complications was 27.5% (n =11 patients), with three patients experiencing postoperative bleeding (7.5%) and eight patients developing a fever (20%). All patients had mild postoperative pain. However, no leakage, sepsis, or pelvic injury occurred. None of the patients required revision. In conclusion, mini-PCNL was a safe and effective procedure in children and adolescents with renal stones.