Comparison between different techniques for management of renal stones in horseshoe kidneys

Objective To report the operative management , intra and post operative complications and subsequent stone-free rates of patients with urolithiasis in a horseshoe kidneys. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients presenting to our centre with a horseshoe kidney and urolithiasis over a 20-year period. The stone burden, surgical management, complications and stone clearance rates were recorded. Results In all, 80 patients with urolithiasis in horseshoe kidney were treated. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) was used in 28 patients. 12 patients had laparoscopic assisted PCNL , 8 had flexible ureteroscopy and 18 had laparoscopic pyelolithotomy . PCNL was used for large stones = (mean digitized surface area= 614.32 mm 2 ) and required one to four stages to achieve an overall stone clearance rate of 88%. Stones were cleared at one sitting in 77% of PCNL procedures. only 33% of patients treated with flexible ureteroscopy was cleared from stones in one session and surprisingly, 89% of patients treated with laparoscopic pyelolithotomy was stone free after one session Complications were minimal, with 15% minor and 3% major complications in the PCNL group only.. Conclusions Appropriate management of urolithiasis within the horseshoe kidney depends not only on stone burden, but also on stone location, calyceal configuration and malrotation. Stones can be cleared successfully in almost all patients providing that all techniques are available to the operating surgeon.