Impact of preoperative ureteral stenting on perioperative outcomes in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
- 1Department of Urology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany.
Abstract
Introduction
The impact of preoperative ureteral stenting on perioperative outcomes in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains unexplored. This study addresses this knowledge gap to guide evidence-based clinical practice.Material and methods
We retrospectively analyzed consecutive PCNL patients treated at LMU University Hospital Munich between December 2012 and April 2025 (n = 374), and compared perioperative outcomes between prestented and non-prestented patients. Patients who underwent endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS, n = 154) or simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery (SBES, n = 23) were excluded to avoid confounding from concurrent ureteroscopy.Results
A total of 197 PCNL patients were included (median age 55 years, 64% male). Preoperative ureteral stenting was performed in 78 patients (40%), while 119 patients (60%) underwent PCNL without prestenting. No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, BMI, ASA score, stone radiodensity, or stone composition. Guy's Stone Score did not differ significantly between groups (median 2, IQR 1-3; p = 0.221), although prestented patients had a slightly higher stone count. Operative time (103 vs 97 minutes; p = 0.814) and complication rates (10% vs 11%; p = 0.963) were similar, with fever being the most common complication. Radiation exposure, laboratory parameters, and hospital stay did not differ between groups. On multivariable logistic regression, prestenting (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.09-7.38; p = 0.033), longer operative time, Guy's Stone Score 4, and greater stone number were independent predictors of not achieving stone-free status.Conclusions
Unless urgently indicated, preoperative ureteral stenting before PCNL should be omitted, because it confers additional procedural burden and stent-related morbidity without improving perioperative outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{ebner2026impact,
title = {{Impact of preoperative ureteral stenting on perioperative outcomes in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.}},
author = {Benedikt Ebner and Tao Guo and Jasmin Bauer and Christopher Schmitz and Lara Lissow and Iulia Blajan and Moritz Happe and Troya Ivanova and Paulo L Pfitzinger and Lennert Eismann and Yannic Volz and Christian G Stief and Maria Apfelbeck and Michael Chaloupka},
journal = {Central European journal of urology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.5173/ceju.2025.0288},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904222},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Impact of preoperative ureteral stenting on perioperative outcomes in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.
AU - Benedikt Ebner
AU - Tao Guo
AU - Jasmin Bauer
AU - Christopher Schmitz
AU - Lara Lissow
AU - Iulia Blajan
AU - Moritz Happe
AU - Troya Ivanova
AU - Paulo L Pfitzinger
AU - Lennert Eismann
AU - Yannic Volz
AU - Christian G Stief
AU - Maria Apfelbeck
AU - Michael Chaloupka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/07
JO - Central European journal of urology
DO - 10.5173/ceju.2025.0288
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42904222
AB - Introduction The impact of preoperative ureteral stenting on perioperative outcomes in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains unexplored. This study addresses this knowledge gap to guide evidence-based clinical practice.Material and methods We retrospectively analyzed consecutive PCNL patients treated at LMU University Hospital Munich between December 2012 and April 2025 (n = 374), and compared perioperative outcomes between prestented and non-prestented patients. Patients who underwent endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS, n = 154) or simultaneous bilateral endoscopic surgery (SBES, n = 23) were excluded to avoid confounding from concurrent ureteroscopy.Results A total of 197 PCNL patients were included (median age 55 years, 64% male). Preoperative ureteral stenting was performed in 78 patients (40%), while 119 patients (60%) underwent PCNL without prestenting. No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, BMI, ASA score, stone radiodensity, or stone composition. Guy's Stone Score did not differ significantly between groups (median 2, IQR 1-3; p = 0.221), although prestented patients had a slightly higher stone count. Operative time (103 vs 97 minutes; p = 0.814) and complication rates (10% vs 11%; p = 0.963) were similar, with fever being the most common complication. Radiation exposure, laboratory parameters, and hospital stay did not differ between groups. On multivariable logistic regression, prestenting (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.09-7.38; p = 0.033), longer operative time, Guy's Stone Score 4, and greater stone number were independent predictors of not achieving stone-free status.Conclusions Unless urgently indicated, preoperative ureteral stenting before PCNL should be omitted, because it confers additional procedural burden and stent-related morbidity without improving perioperative outcomes.
SN - 2080-4806
SN - 2080-4873
ER -