Children
Mini-Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Infants with Renal Stones: An Age-Stratified Retrospective Cohort Study
By Halil Tosun, Emre Can Akınsal, Gökhan Sönmez and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
The management of renal stone disease in infants poses unique challenges due to anatomical and physiological differences compared with older children. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in infants aged ≤1 year and to contextually compare these outcomes with those of an older pediatric reference cohort undergoing mini-PCNL. We hypothesized that, with appropriate miniaturization and patient selection, outcomes in infants would not be inferior to those observed in older pediatric patients.
Methods
This single-center, retrospective, age-stratified cohort study included pediatric patients who underwent mini-PCNL for renal stones between January 2016 and September 2025. Patients were divided into two groups: infants (≤1 year) and non-infant pediatric patients aged 1–5 years. Mini-PCNL was defined as surgery performed using a 14-Fr access sheath. The primary endpoint was final stone-free status. Secondary endpoints included initial stone-free status, operative time, hemoglobin decrease, length of hospital stay, transfusion requirement, need for auxiliary procedures, and postoperative complications. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test, and categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square or Fisher’s exact test.