Horseshoe kidney: the impact of percutaneous surgery

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Nephrology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Horseshoe kidneys present unique anatomical challenges for treating stone disease and ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
• Minimally invasive surgical options are crucial for managing complex renal anomalies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous surgical techniques for managing stone disease and/or ureteropelvic junction obstruction in patients with horseshoe kidneys.
• To describe the specific considerations for percutaneous nephrolithotomy and endopyelotomy in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of six patients with horseshoe kidneys undergoing percutaneous surgery.
• Procedures included percutaneous nephrolithotomy and/or endopyelotomy.
• Assessment of intraoperative and postoperative complications, and fragment clearance at 3 months.

Main Results:

• Six patients with horseshoe kidney anomalies underwent percutaneous surgery.
• No major complications were reported during the procedures.
• One patient had residual fragments in the lower calyx at the 3-month follow-up, indicating a high success rate.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy and endopyelotomy are safe and effective treatment options for stone disease and ureteropelvic junction obstruction in horseshoe kidneys.
• The specific technical aspects of these procedures are well-tolerated in this complex anatomical variant.
• These minimally invasive approaches offer a favorable outcome profile for patients with horseshoe kidney anomalies.