Although percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) comprises only 4% to 6% of all stone surgeries, it behooves the urologist with an interest in stone disease to be facile in this treatment modality in order to offer patients the most appropriate and effective treatment for their stones.
Preoperative imaging
Selecting the optimal calyx for puncture
Alkaline water unlikely to prevent kidney stones, study finds
January 11th 2024"While alkaline water products have a higher pH than regular water, they have a negligible alkali content–which suggests that they can't raise urine pH enough to affect the development of kidney and other urinary stones," says Roshan M. Patel, MD.
Microbiome alterations linked to kidney stone formation
December 21st 2023"If the diversity and robust functional potential of the healthy human microbiome is repeatedly assaulted by the average Westernized lifestyle via antibiotic exposure, diet, and other environmental factors, kidney stone prevalence will continue to increase," the authors write.