[The percutaneous endoscopic treatment of staghorn nephrolithiasis]

Basing on the data obtained on percutaneous removal of stag-horn nephroliths in 81 patients (44 females and 37 males aged 10-65), the authors discuss the operative technique and surgical results. The patients were divided into 4 groups depending on the stone size, its position in the pelvicaliceal system, the presence and severity of calicectasis. Nephroliths sizes ranged from 3.5 to 10 cm. Better treatment results were obtained in those patients who had the main mass of the stone in renal pelvis and in those with pyelocalicectasis. After the treatment 72 patients (88.8%) were free of the stones. Common among complications were episodes of pyelonephritis after the intervention and displacement of the nephrostomy drainage. The authors gained primary experience which supports benefit of percutaneous surgery of stag-horn nephroliths.