Introduction

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is accepted as the first choice in the treatment of complicated kidney stones with a long axis larger than 2 cm [1]. Liver injuries are extremely rare in both supine and prone variants of the PCNL [2]. This case report describes the successful conservative management of liver injury with a hemostatic sponge performed through a percutaneous nephrostomy tube (PNT).

Case Presentation

A 41-year-old male was admitted with right flank pain. Stones were diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) (Fig. 1, Fig. 2). A supine PCNL was planned. Although the liver was observed to have a ptotic lobe and to extend to the right retro-renal area, a window partially distant to the liver, allowing lower pole access, was seen. Lower pole entry was made with a deep inspiration, biplanar method, in the supine position (Fig. 3). A 20-f Amplatz sheath was placed using Alken telescopic metal coaxial dilators. The stones were cleaned with miniaturized PCNL and ECIRS (Endoscopic Combined Intrarenal Surgery). An 18 F PNT was placed. No complications were detected. The patient’s hemoglobin (HB) value was 16 g/dl preoperatively, and 13.2 g/dl after surgery. The patient had stinging pain during respiration. The second HB value was 10 g/dl. CT, performed when epigastric pain arose, showed that the PNT passed the right lobe of the liver through the ptotic part. A 3-cm thick fluid collection was detected in the subdiaphragmatic and subhepatic areas (Fig. 4). After 2 units of erythrocyte suspension were transfused, the HB value was 11.6 g/dl, 12, and 13.1 g/dl, during the follow-up, increasingly, HB level remained stable, and the hematoma did not increase in the control ultrasonography (USG). Stinging pain and epigastric tenderness decreased. The PNT was retained for 10 days. On the 10th day, while the PNT was being removed, a guidewire was passed through it. This guidewire must have also passed through the ptotic lobe of the liver. An 18 F open-end smooth catheter was passed over the guide. A 70-mm long cylindrical piece of re-absorbable gelatin hemostatic sponge (Cutanplast Standart; Mascia Brunelli S.p.A., Milan, Italy) with a diameter of 10 mm was pushed through this catheter into the tract for hemostasis (Fig. 5). The patient was discharged after a further 1 day of follow-up, without HB change.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Ptotic part of the liver (yellow arrow) and the location of the right kidney stones in non-contrast CT. The complete CT is shown in the video (Online Resource 1)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

The location of the right kidney stones in reconstructed CT (eight stones, with the largest 15 × 11 mm and the smallest 10 × 9 mm, in lower calyx, middle calyx, and pelvis)

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Fig. 3
figure 3

The access into the subcostal lower calyx in the supine position

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Fig. 4
figure 4

PNT penetrating the lower lobe of the liver (blue arrow) and subhepatic hematoma (red arrow) in post-operative non-contrast CT. The complete CT is shown in the video (Online Resource 2)

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Observation of the tract with the contrast agent given from the PNT before administration of the hemostatic agent

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Discussion

Although the most common injury during PCNL is in the pleura, the true incidence of pleural injury is not exactly known because it remains unnoticed in most of the cases as it is usually minor and of no clinical significance, with the incidence ranging between 0 and 12.5% [3]. The second most common injury is in the colon with an incidence of 0.5% [4]. Little is known about liver and spleen injuries. This could be because hepatic and splenic injuries are very rare and were not encountered even in large series [5]. Other reasons for underestimation may be poor documentation, or the injury may heal spontaneously without an obvious clinical presentation. In a study subjecting CTs performed after PCNL; thoracic complication (2.6%), colon perforation (0.2%), and spleen injury (0.2%), no liver injuries were observed [6]. As in the case, 1.20% of PCNL-related complications are grade IVa according to modified Clavien classification; liver injury has not been reported among them [7]. The highest risks are access above the 11th rib and hepatomegaly. Although the most preferred access for PCNL is subcostal, supracostal access is chosen to manage staghorn or complex upper pole stones. Supracostal entrances are open to adjacent organ injuries or intrathoracic complications [8]. A sagittal section abdominal CT study with 43 patients in forced respiration stated that the 12th rib is far from the liver and the 11th rib access brings 14% liver injury with it [9]. The current case was with subcostal access and had no hepatomegaly but the right lobe of the liver was ptotic into the retro-renal area. To avoid injuries due to hepatomegaly, USG- or CT-guided access is important. USG-guided entrances were defined targeting the correct calyx to avoid access complications [10].

Although PCNL was first applied in the prone position, the preference for the supine position is increasing day by day [11]. In a study comparing supine and prone intervention results, the supine position had less blood loss, shorter surgical time, and shorter hospital stay while stone-free and complication rates were equal [12]. Liver injury is not as serious as other intraperitoneal organ injuries. Unlike spleen and bowel injuries, it heals mostly conservatively, with close CT or USG follow-up. Exploration is recommended only in hemodynamically unstable patients [13]. In a study, in the case of liver injury after PCNL, the PNT was left for 5 days with conservative follow-up, and the tract was hemostasized with fibrin [14]. There is no common consensus as to when the PNT should be removed. It has been reported that it is safer to keep the PNT for 12–14 days in spleen injuries [15]. A study stated that ureteral double-J-stent and foley catheter placement is superior to prevent possible biloma after PNT removal [16]. In the current case, the PNT was removed on the 10th day after the regression of the hematoma in USG. Hemostasis was achieved by placing a sterile re-absorbable gelatin sponge with a hemostatic effect. The porous surface of the gelatin induces the rapid rupture of the blood plaques with the consequent activation of the enzymatic cascade, which leads to natural coagulation.

Conclusion

As in current case’s new technique, the injured tract can be filled with a hemostatic sponge while the PNT is being removed after PNT was held longer.