title: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for treating staghorn stones: 10 years of experience of a tertiary-care centre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the results of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for treating staghorn stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  A database was compiled from the computerised files of patients who underwent PCNL for staghorn stones between 1999 and 2009. The study included 238 patients (128 males and 110 females) with a mean (SD) age of 48.9 (14) years, who underwent 242 PCNLs, and included staghorn stones that were present in the renal pelvis and branched into two or more major calyces. PCNL was performed or supervised by an experienced endourologist. All perioperative complications were recorded. The stone-free status was evaluated after PCNL and again after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple tracts were needed in 35.5% of the procedures, and several sessions of PCNL were needed in 30% of patients. There were perioperative complications in 54 procedures (22%); blood transfusion was needed in 34 patients (14%). The stone-free rate for PCNL monotherapy was 56.6% (137 patients). Secondary procedures were required for 51 patients (21%), and included shock-wave lithotripsy for 49 and ureteroscopy for two. The 3-month stone-free rate was 72.7% (176 patients). Multiple tracts resulted in an insignificantly higher overall complication rate than with a single tract (P = 0.219), but the reduction in the haemoglobin level was statistically significant with multiple tracts (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCNL for staghorn stones must be done by an experienced endourologist in a specialised centre with all the facilities for stone management and treatment of possible complications. The patients must be informed about the range of stone-free and complication rates, and the possibility of multiple sessions or secondary procedures.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: El-Nahas
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eraky
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shokeir
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shoma
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: El-Assmy
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nasr A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: El-Tabey
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hamdy A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Kappany
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Urology & Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: El-Kenawy
keywords: Kidney; NCCT, non-contrast CT; PCNL, percutaneous nephrolithotomy; Percutaneous nephrolithotomy; Staghorn; Stones