Does percutaneous nephrolithotomy cause elevated cardiac troponins?

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is the treatment of choice in large and staghorn renal stones, and myocardial infarction is one the possible complications during and after the surgery. We investigated if renal and skeletal muscle injury, caused by percutaneous nephrolithotomy, can cause elevation in cardiac troponins (cTn).

Methods: This study was conducted on otherwise healthy patients with renal stone undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy. A baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and cTn assessment confirmed no cardiac pathology in any patients. Cardiac troponins T (cTnT) and I (cTnI), and also creatine kinase (CK) were assessed before and after surgery.

Results: A total of 55 patients (69.1% males, mean age: 40.5 ± 13.8 year) were included. Serum creatinine level ranged from 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dl (mean = 1.03 ± 0.17). The level of CK was significantly increased by 469.5 ± 201.4 U/l (P < 0.001), and no positive cTnT or cTnI was observed after surgery.

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that renal cell injury, caused by percutaneous nephrolithotomy, is not associated with elevated cardiac troponins. These findings show that increasing troponins in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy indicate a cardiovascular pathology.