Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Mar;12(1):54-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.aju.2013.08.002. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Training in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: The learning curve and options

Chi-Fai Ng  1
Affiliations
Review

Training in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: The learning curve and options

Chi-Fai Ng. Arab J Urol. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To review the current approach to training and the learning curve for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), and to formulate a recommendation for structured PCNL training for the urologist in-training.

Methods: Publications related to PCNL training, simulator training, surgical training and working-hour restrictions on surgical training were reviewed.

Results: The key components for a successful PCNL training programme should include stages for acquiring basic knowledge related to the procedure, acquiring basic skill in various training models, and acquiring clinical experience under supervised clinical practice. Lastly, life-long continuous learning would be important to maintain the practising standard.

Conclusion: Despite being one of the main endoscopic procedures for managing stones, PCNL remains a difficult procedure with a long period of learning. Facing the challenge of working-hour restrictions on training, a more structured training programme, together with the use of models, would improve the learning curve for PCNL.

Keywords: PCNL; PCNL, percutaneous nephrolithotomy; Simulator training; Training; Work hour limitation.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Schilling D., Gakis G., Walcher U., Stenzl A., Nagele U. The learning curve in minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy: a 1-year retrospective evaluation of a novice and an expert. World J Urol. 2011;29:749–753. - PubMed
    1. Tanriverdi O., Boylu U., Kendirci M., Kadihasanoglu M., Horasanli K., Miroglu C. The learning curve in the training of percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Eur Urol. 2007;52:206–212. - PubMed
    1. Allen D., O’Brien T., Tiptaft R., Glass J. Defining the learning curve for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. J Endourol. 2005;19:279–282. - PubMed
    1. Ziawee S.A.M., Sichani M.M., Kashi A.H., Samzadeh M. Evaluation of the learning curve for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Urol J. 2010;7:226–231. - PubMed
    1. Richardson J.D., Bland K.I. Learning to operate in a restricted duty hours environment. Am J Surg. 2005;190:354–355. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources