RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The accidental puncture of the renal cavities and the performance of anterograde pyelogram by Goodwin in 1955 gave way to the beginning of modern endourology. The possibility to insert thick caliber catheters in the excretory system through the renal parenchyma had led to the current state of percutaneous surgery techniques in the treatment of urinary lithiasis. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) in the supine position makes possible, nowadays, to treat a high number of patients with outstanding results and a fast recovery. METHODS: We describe the technique used for the surgical treatment of renal lithiasis in supine position and the established indications. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2007 we treated 150 patients using the PNL technique in supine position. We show a brief analysis of the results obtained while applying these techniques and evaluated the trans and post operative complications, post operative stay, evolution and kind of technique used for the extraction of the gravel. CONCLUSIONS: The good results achieved during the application of the supine position gives credit to its use for the treatment of renal lithiasis.