Aim: To analyze the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (LP) in treating staghorn stones.
Materials and methods: A multicentre retrospective analysis of the results of LP performed from January 2004 to December 2016 was conducted.
Inclusion criteria: patients with staghorn calculi K3-K4, who underwent LP as an alternative to percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. The analysis included the incidence and structure of intra- and postoperative complications, the causes of access conversion, operating time, duration of postoperative hospital stay and stone clearance.
Results: A total of 137 patients met the inclusion criteria, including 78 (56.93%) men. There was no mortality and access conversion. Intraoperative complications occurred in 2 (1.46%) patients. Operating time was 130 [100; 150] min, blood loss was 150 [100; 200] ml. No need for blood transfusion was observed. The cumulative rate of postoperative complications was 5.11%, stone clearance was achieved in 86.13% of observations, the duration of postoperative hospital stay was 7 [7; 11] days.
Conclusion: In cases of dense staghorn calculi located in a large "extra-renal" pelvis and have calyceal branches equal to the diameter of their necks, laparoscopic pyelolithotomy is an alternative not only to open, but also to percutaneous surgery.
Keywords: laparoscopic pyelolithotomy; staghorn nephrolithiasis.