Lower pole divergence of kidney: a new surgical technique to prevent recurrent renal calculus

Gravity and natural position of the kidney have emerged as important factors in the nucleation, growth and postoperative recurrences of renal stones. A new operation technique is described to alter the position of the kidney, hence countering all obstacles to urinary flow. Recurrence of stones after the new operation (8.1%) were compared with controls (15.0%). Recurrence rates revealed from history data at two years (15-28%) and life-time recurrences deduced therefrom (25-80% or more) were used for comparison. Postnephropexy figures were 5.97% and 10-25% respectively. It strengthened our belief that to check inevitable postoperative recurrences, this new operation should be applied whenever open surgery is performed for nephrolithiasis.