[Efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy for treatment of staghorn stones in solitary kidney].

Objective: To analyze efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the management of staghorn calculi with solitary kidney.
Methods: Between April 2009 and December 2011, 13 patients with renal staghorn calculi in solitary kidney were treated by PCNL in our hospital. The therapeutic effects and complications were the main points of the analysis.
Results: Of the 13 patients, surgery time was 92-164 (117.2±21.5) min; 9 cases underwent PCNL through a single access tract, 4 cases through multi-access tracts. The stone removal rate in one session of PCNL was 76.9%, and the total clearance rate was 92.3%. Hemoglobin dropped 11-32 (16.4±4.6) g/L; one case required blood transfusion; no patient had embolism. Hospital stay was 5-10 (6.9±1.5) days postoperatively. Serum creatinine before PCNL in these patients was 83-237 (146.24±38.73) μmol/L compared to 81-242 (134.56±21.52) μmol/L by the end of the 1-month follow-up period (not statistically different). Similar findings were observed in glomerular filtration rates: before PCNL it was 42-114 (71.32±20.82) mL/min and by the end of the 1-month follow-up it was 55-117 (79.40±22.14) mL/min (not statistically different).
Conclusion: PCNL is effective and safe for the treatment of staghorn stones in solitary kidney, and has advantages such as short surgical duration, fewer complications, rapid recovery, short hospital stay, effective stone removal rate, and so on.