PCNL procedure
After placing 5 or 6 F ureter catheters in the renal pelvis in the lithotomy position under general anesthesia, subcostal or intercostal access was achieved in all patients with an 18-gauge needle under fluoroscopy in the prone position depending on the location of the stone and the anatomy of the kidney. The entry site was dilated up to 30 Fr using Amplatz dilators, and the collecting system was entered with a nephroscope. The stones were fragmented with a pneumatic lithotriptor (Vibrolith; Elmed, Ankara, Turkey). A 14 F nephrostomy tube was inserted postoperatively and antegrade pyelography was performed in all patients. If fever or significant hematuria was not detected, nephrostomy was clamped on the first or second postoperative day. After clamping, the nephrostomy tube was removed if there was no leakage from the nephrostomy edges and no renal colic.