Pre- and postoperative evaluation of renal function in patients with staghorn calculi utilizing quantitative renal...

Differential quantitative renal scans using 99-technetium diethylene triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) or 131I Hippuran were obtained properatively on 12 patients with unilateral or bilateral staghorn calculi. Of the 14 renal units studied, 12 kidneys underwent anatrophic nephrolithotomy, pyelolithotomy, or a combination of both techniques; 2 patients underwent nephrectomy based on poor function of the affected side preoperatively. Postoperative follow-up scans were obtained on the 12 kidneys undergoing stone cleanout. Seven of 12 kidneys (58 per cent) studied pre- and postoperatively showed moderate to significant improvement in per cent contribution to total renal function. Seven of 10 kidneys (70 per cent) studied pre- and postoperatively showed improvement in glomerular filtration rate or effective renal plasma flow. The scans revelaed no dramatic difference in postoperative functional loss between pyelolithotomy and anatrophic nephrolithotomy. The computerizewd quantitative renal scan helps in selection of surgical technique and objective postoperative assessment of surgical results.