Secondary stone formation over a suture material after partial nephrectomy

We hereby present the treatment of renal pelvic and lower pole stones of sizes 2.74×1 cm and 1.38×0.92 cm, respectively, forming over a nidus of non-absorbable suture, in a 50-year-old female patient with a history of open partial nephrectomy done for renal angiomyolipoma around 10 years back. She was successfully treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy technique under spinal anaesthesia. There was complete stone clearance, and she was discharged in stable condition within 40 hours of surgery without any stent. There is no case report showing the presence of suture material in the renal stone after partial nephrectomy. This case report highlights the fact that the non-absorbable suture material used during the open surgery especially for haemostasis can also act as nidus for future stone formation. This also suggests that percutaneous techniques can be considered to avoid repeat open surgery and the associated morbidity.