Percutaneous nephrolithotomy of horseshoe kidney: Our institutional experience

To review our success in PCNL for managing large horse shoe kidney stones as primary treatment.

Between 2012 and 2016, a total of 23patients (24 renal units) underwent percutaneous renal surgery for stone dieses in horseshoe kidneys. Indications were HSK with stone more than 1 cm in size and failed ESWL.

Mean age was 35.60 ± 10.10 years out of which 18 were males and 5 females. One patient had stone in both kidneys. Mean stone size was 22.03 ± 10.33 mm. Access site was upper calyceal and subcostal in all patients. In 2 patients an extra middle calyceal puncture were used for total clearance (8.69%). Mean operation time was 67.22 ± 7.63 minutes. One patient with staghorn stone was converted to open surgery because of inaccessibility of the stone and complexity of the renal calyceal system. Post operatively, 2 renal units with residual stone more than 8mm were cleared with ESWL. Complete clearance was achieved in 21 renal units with PCNL (87.50%). There was no significant intra operative complication. Post operatively 2 patients developed fever which was treated conservatively(clavien grade I).

PCNL can be recommended as first line of management in the treatment of horseshoe kidneys with large stone burden considering its higher clearance rate and minimal complications.