Long-term renal fate and prognosis after staghorn calculus management

We analyzed retrospectively 177 consecutive staghorn calculus patients to determine risk factors for ultimate renal deterioration and renal cause specific death. Mean followup was 7.7 years. Overall rate of renal deterioration was 28%. Renal deterioration was associated more frequently among patients with solitary versus nonsolitary kidneys (77% versus 21%, p < 0.001), previous versus initial stones (39% versus 14%, p = 0.03), recurrent versus nonrecurrent calculi (39% versus 22%, p = 0.07), hypertension versus normotension (50% versus 22%, p = 0.006), complete versus partial staghorn calculi (34% versus 13%, p = 0.02), diversion versus no diversion (58% versus 19%, p < 0.001) and neurogenic bladder versus normal voiding (47% versus 21%, p = 0.006), as well as those who refused treatment versus treated patients (100% versus 28%, p < 0.001). No patient with complete clearance of fragments died of renal related causes compared to 3% of those without clearance of fragments and 67% of those who refused treatment (p < 0.001). Our study suggests that long-term renal preservation in the staghorn calculus patient may depend on normal blood pressure, staghorn size, absence of diversion or voiding dysfunction, and complete stone eradication.