Balloon catheter parieto-renal dilatation in percutaneous renal surgery

Objective: To compare two techniques of parieto-renal dilatation for percut aneous surgery: Alken dilators and balloon catheter. Material and methods: This prospective, non-randomized study was conducted between July 1999 and April 2000 in 20 patients undergoing percutaneous ren al surgery. 10 patients were dilated with a balloon catheter (NephroMax, Bo ston Scientific) and the other 10 patients were dilated with Alken metal di lators. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney test. Result: The dilatation time and x-ray exposure time were shorter during bal loon catheter dilatation (statistically significant difference) and the two techniques were associated with a comparable morbidity. Conclusion: Balloon catheter parieto-renal dilatation significantly decreas e dilatation and x-ray exposure times and very considerably simplifies this operative step, essential to the success of percutaneous surgery.