Features of percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in patients with urolithiasis of solitary kidney

The article describes the results of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in 49 urolithiasis patients with a solitary kidney. In 44 (89.8%) patients the calculi were located in the kidney, in 5 (10.2%) patients - in the upper third of the ureter. The calculi were single (18; 36.7%), multiple (14; 28.6%) or stag-horn (17; 34.7%). Efficiency of PCNL estimated immediately after surgery and at the end of the third month of observation was 75.5 and 93.9%, respectively. Stone size (p=0.594), the baseline state of urodynamics of the upper urinary tract (p=0.205) did not affect the renal clearance at PCNL. Enlargement of initial calculus size positively correlated with the number of required treatment sessions (p=0.013), duration of surgery (p<0.0001), and the length of postoperative hospital stay (p<0.0001). Complications were common (44.9%), but the auxiliary manipulations were performed infrequently (26.5%). No associations were found between the size of calculus, the number of complications and secondary manipulations (p=0.361). No correlations were found between the clinical form of a solitary kidney with urolithiasis and the occurrence of complications during the treatment course (p=0.121), as well as between the presence of complications and the cause of the «loss» of the contralateral kidney (p> 0.05). Thus, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy is a highly effective method modality of treatment of solitary kidney urolithiasis. Appropriate selection of indications and contraindications for PCNL, preoperative preparation, surgical technique, postoperative patient management are of great importance.

urolithiasis, solitary kidney, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy