Extracorporeal surgery and autotransplantation for complicated renal calculous disease in 108 kidneys

One hundred and eight kidneys in 97 patients with staghorn (72%) or multiple pyelocalyceal (28%) calculi were treated by extracorporeal surgery and autotransplantation, and followed up for 1-12 (mean 3) years. Twenty-seven patients had a solitary kidney, and 11 were operated on bilaterally. Sixty-nine % had a history of previous stone surgery, 74% had urinary tract infection and 30% renal dysfunction. Postoperative and late mortality rates were 3.1 and 2.1%, respectively. In addition, three kidneys were lost postoperatively and two later. Only one case of renal calculus recurrence was observed. Sixty-nine per cent of preoperatively infected patients were cured of infection, and 18% improved. Ninety-two per cent of patients with functioning autograft had preserved or improved renal function at follow-up. We find extracorporeal calculus removal a highly effective procedure with an acceptable risk.