Use of Surgicel for sealing nephrostomy tract after totally tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fibrin glue and gelatin matrix have been used to seal nephrostomy tracts to reduce bleeding and extravasation after tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). In this study, Surgicel (oxidized cellulose) was used to seal the nephrostomy tract after totally tubeless PNL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with kidney calculi were treated with totally tubeless PNL. According to randomization, at the conclusion of surgery, the nephrostomy tracts were sealed with Surgicel in ten patients and left unsealed in the other ten. Postoperatively, the two groups were compared with respect to hematocrit changes and extravasation as detected by abdominal ultrasonography and wound-dressing inspection. RESULTS: There was statistically significant decrease in the hematocrit in both the study (P = 0.017) and the control (P = 0.003) group. When the two groups were compared with respect to the decrease in hematocrit, no statistically significant difference was seen (P = 0.241). Similarly, extravasation from the nephrostomy tract was not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Sealing the nephrostomy tract with Surgicel after totally tubeless PNL did not decrease bleeding or extravasation from the tract.