Partial nephrectomy: an option in calculus disease?

Thirty-seven patients treated by partial nephrectomy for calculus disease between 1971 and 1986 were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 25 patients available for analysis, 20% developed immediate surgical complications, 20% had residual post-operative stone and 33% developed true ipsilateral stone recurrence during the period of follow-up. Our results from partial nephrectomy for calculus disease are compared with the results of treatment by percutaneous nephrolithotomy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. It was concluded that partial nephrectomy should be reserved for situations where stone disease is associated with anatomical abnormalities which cannot be treated by the newer modalities of stone management.