Percutaneous nephrolithotomy of horseshoe kidney: Our institutional experience

PURPOSE: To review our success in PCNL for managing large horse shoe kidney stones as primary treatment. METHOD: Between 2012 and 2016, a total of 23patients (24 renal units) underwent percutaneous renal surgery for stone dieses in horseshoe kidneys. Indications were HSK with stone more than 1 cm in size and failed ESWL. RESULTS: Mean age was 35.60 ± 10.10 years out of which 18 were males and 5 females. One patient had stone in both kidneys. Mean stone size was 22.03 ± 10.33 mm. Access site was upper calyceal and subcostal in all patients. In 2 patients an extra middle calyceal puncture were used for total clearance (8.69%). Mean operation time was 67.22 ± 7.63 minutes. One patient with staghorn stone was converted to open surgery because of inaccessibility of the stone and complexity of the renal calyceal system. Post operatively, 2 renal units with residual stone more than 8mm were cleared with ESWL. Complete clearance was achieved in 21 renal units with PCNL (87.50%). There was no significant intra operative complication. Post operatively 2 patients developed fever which was treated conservatively(clavien grade I). CONCLUSION: PCNL can be recommended as first line of management in the treatment of horseshoe kidneys with large stone burden considering its higher clearance rate and minimal complications.