Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL or PNL) is a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment for removing large kidney stones called staghorn stones or large or multiple stones impacted at the upper ureter.

A puncture is made in the skin through the kidney to the stone and a telescopic port inserted. There is no surgical incision with PCNL or PNL. Instruments are inserted via a telescope called a nephroscope passed through this port into the kidney to break up the stone and remove most of the debris from the stone. PCNL or PNL is done under general anesthesia and real-time x-ray control (fluoroscopy). Hospital stay is required.

The advantages of PNL or PCNL is:

1. It avoids the large skin incision of pervious kidney surgery for stones.
2. It avoids any large incision on the kidney or renal pelvis.
3. Hospital stay is shorter.
4. Recovery and healing is faster.