Staghorn calculis: its clinical presentation, complications and management

There were 95 patients (105 kidneys) with staghorn calculi evaluated clinically and 84 kidneys were studied on a pathologic basis. Only 1 percent of the patients could be defined as having a silent stone calculus. Clinical complications occurred in 53 per cent of the patients. Of 84 kidneys submitted for a pathoanatomic study (surgical evaluation and/or histopathology) pyonephrosis was found in 20 per cent, xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in 8 per cent, end stage pyelonephritic kidney in 6 per cent, end state hydronephrotic kidney in 7 per cent, severe pyelonephritic changes in 7 per cent and a perinephric abscess in 5 per cent. The kidney was considered to be relatively undamaged in 51 per cent of the cases. Complete removal of the calculus and appropriate medical adjunctive therapy should be done early in the course of the disease in an attempt to prevent complications and renal deterioration. The results of treatment are discussed and compared to those obtained in a group of patients who initially were managed conservatively.