title: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for calculi in horseshoe kidneys.
abstract: Between 1983 and 1988, 15 patients (18 kidneys) underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy at this unit for calculi in horseshoe kidneys. A standard 1-stage percutaneous access technique with minor modifications was used. In situ disintegration with ultrasound or electrohydraulic lithotripsy was necessary in 15 moieties (83.3%) and nephrostomy drainage was required in 12 (66.7%). Percutaneous access was not a problem and there were minimal perioperative problems. Blood transfusion was required postoperatively in 2 patients. A total of 14 kidneys (77.8%) were rendered free of stone with percutaneous nephrolithotomy alone and 2 kidneys were left with asymptomatic stone fragments of 2 mm. or less. Another 2 kidneys became free of stone after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, thus giving an over-all stone clearance rate of 88.8%. We conclude that percutaneous nephrolithotomy is an acceptable treatment for stones in horseshoe kidneys and it is the treatment of choice for patients in whom imaging is difficult or impossible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, London, England.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wickham
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kellett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities*; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous