Prospective Comparison of Outcomes of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Elderly Patients Versus Younger Patients

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to prospectively compare operative and postoperative characteristics and outcomes in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) compared with younger patients. Patients and Methods: Prospectively collected data from the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society (CROES) Global PCNL Study database were used. Elderly patients were defined as those aged 70 years and above, while younger patients were those between 18 and 70 years of age. Matched and unmatched group comparisons were performed based on imaging modality used for assessing stone-free status. Patient characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcomes were compared. Results: The median age of the elderly group vs the young group was 74 years (range 70–93 years) vs 49 years. In the unmatched analysis, staghorn stones were seen at higher rates in the elderly group (27.8% vs 21.8%, P=0.014); however, the mean stone size was not significantly different (465.0 vs 422.8, P=0.063). The length of hospitalization was significantly longer in the elderly group compared with the young group in the unmatched analysis (5 days vs 4.1 days, P<0.001). The same difference was not apparent in the matched analysis (5.0 days vs 4.4 days, P=0.288). Overall complication rates were not significantly different in the unmatched analysis. In the matched analysis, however, a statistically significant higher rate of overall complications was seen. Stone-free rates were similar among all groups. Conclusion: PCNL in elderly patients over the age of 70 years produces results comparable to those seen in younger patients. With only a slightly higher—be it statistically significant—complication rate, the stone-free rate in older patients was the same as in the younger group.