Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of local anesthesia applied to percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) under Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for treating upper urinary tract stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective, single-center randomized controlled study in which the patients were randomly divided into two groups: 40 in the ERAS PCNL under local anesthesia (ERAS-LA) group and 40 in the ERAS PCNL under general anesthesia (ERAS-GA) group). The primary indicators were stone-free rate; the secondary outcomes were intraoperative and postoperative complications, intraoperative and postoperative VAS pain scores and postoperative stress response indicators. A meta-analysis was also performed using RevMan 5.4 software by searching relevant literatures in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Embase. RESULTS: The stone clearance rates at 48 h were similar between the two groups [ERAS-LA: 85.0% (34/40) vs. ERAS-GA: 87.5% (35/40), P = 0.800] and both 90% at 1 month. The incidence of surgical complications was similar between the two group. The intraoperative pain score in ERAS-LA group was 2.90 ± 0.74, and the postoperative 24-h pain score was comparable between the two groups (ERAS-LA: 2.65 ± 1.35 vs. ERAS-GA: 2.63 ± 0.98, P = 0.925), with good pain control. The mean total operative time was lower in ERAS-LA group than in ERAS-GA group (68.15 ± 24.11 min vs. 82.125 ± 20.42 min, P = 0.006). Postoperative hemoglobin change values (3.38 ± 3.00 × 10(9)/L vs. 5.22 ± 4.18 × 10(9)/L, P = 0.027) and stress response factors including C-reactive protein (8.39 ± 7.46 mg/L vs. 10.47 ± 10.30 mg/L, P = 0.035) and interleukin-6 (5.40 ± 1.50 pg/ml vs. 10.57 ± 1.82 pg/ml, P = 0.041) were significantly lower in ERAS-LA group. The mean catheter retention, fistula retention, and postoperative hospital stay were all significantly lower in ERSA-LA group than in ERSA-GA group (2.3%, 2.9%, and 5.08 days vs. 3.33%, 4.38%, and 6.35 days, P < 0.05). The results of the meta-analysis were similar to that of our study. CONCLUSIONS: Local anesthesia applied to ERAS-managed PCNL have a comparable stone clearance rates and complication rates, and a faster postoperative recovery, lower surgical stress, length of stay, anesthesia costs and hospital costs than general anesthesia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.medresman.org.cn, identifier (ChiCTR2100045681).