NLPC tubeless

Tubeless PCNL has been promoted by Bellman in 1997 and consists in a PCNL without placing a nephrostomy tube at the end of the procedure. Double J stent or ureteral stent are the most common internal drainage used but totally tubeless PCNL has been described by using no ureteral stent. Tubeless PCNL is safe and efficient. Exclusion criteria to propose a tubeless procedure are significant bleeding or purulent renal discharge. Stone size or location, shape, position or function of the kidneys are also irrelevant with regard to tubeless PCNL. A nephrostomy tube should be placed if a second look is necessary. Some hemostatic agents have been described but none has really proved its efficacy. The results of the more recent series of the literature will be presented.