Operative versus non-operative management of patients with staghorn calculi and neurogenic bladder

During the last 5 years 22 patients have been treated at our hospital for staghorn calculi and neurogenic bladder. In 17 patients an operation was done soon after discovery of the calculi, while 5 patients were followed non-operatively. The latter 5 patients had a rapid downhill course marked by sepsis and renal function deterioration and an operation was necessary in 4 of the 5 cases. Injudicious non-operative therapy only prolongs the relentless effects of staghorn calculi in patients with spinal cord pathology.