Ultrasound-Guided Access in a Malrotated Kidney: Optimally Safe and Effective

Management of renal calculi in a patient with kidney malrotation can be difficult because of complexity and alteration of collecting system anatomy. Pyelolithotomy, whether open, laparoscopic, or robotic, has been shown to be an effective method of stone removal in this patient population; however, it is not always ideal because of its invasiveness and increased morbidity. Ideally, a percutaneous approach may be less invasive, and if feasible, it can optimize patient safety and stone-free status. Here we present a case of a 68-year-old Caucasian female who presented with 2.7 cm stone in the renal pelvis of a severely malrotated left kidney, which was managed using a combination of fluoroscopy and ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy. US-guided access properly delineates the anatomic complexities of a severely malrotated kidney and permits safe percutaneous management of large stones. This is because fluoroscopic guidance alone may lead to inadvertent adjacent visceral organ trauma and increased risk of parenchymal and intrarenal vascular injury.