Percutaneous kidney stone removal.

Percutaneous nephrostomy has proved to be a reliable method to establish access to the collecting system of the kidney. Without adding any significant morbidity, this access can be used for the removal of kidney stones by simple extraction, chemolysis or ultrasound lithotripsy. A nephrostomy channel of the required size is rapidly and atraumatically established with a telescope dilation set. A set of instruments especially developed for intrarenal instrumentation is necessary to guarantee a low residual stone rate. With the use of intrarenal ultrasound disintegration the technique is successful regardless of stone composition and size.