Single versus multiple mini-tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy for staghorn renal stone: A single-center study

Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the standard procedure used for large kidney stones, and multiple tracts of PCNL are applied to achieve better stone clearance. However, the creation of multiple tracts may have the potential risk of bleeding and higher complication rates compared with single-tract procedures. We reviewed our experience managing staghorn calculi with multiple tracts compared with a single tract. Materials and Methods: Records of 36 patients with staghorn calculi who underwent PCNL at our institution between January 2018 and April 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Nineteen patients were managed by single-tract access (Group 1), and 17 patients underwent multiple-tract access (Group 2). Both groups were compared in terms of perioperative findings and postoperative outcomes. Results: The mean number of percutaneous accesses in the multiple-tract group was 2.88, with most patients requiring two tracts. The mean duration of fluoroscopy screening and operative time was longer in Group 2. Stone-free rates were 59% and 70.5% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The mean hospital stay was similar in both groups. Complications included blood transfusion, resulting from a hemoglobin drop of 2.15 ± 0.96 and 1.59 ± 0.69 g/dL in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Mean pre- and post-operative creatinine concentrations were 1.212 and 1.211 mg/dL in Group 1 and 1.206 and 1.157 mg/dL in Group 2. Mean changes in creatinine values were not statistically significant between the groups. Clavien–Dindo Classification Grade II complications included urosepsis and blood transfusion, which occurred in five patients in Group 1 and three in Group 2. Pseudoaneurysm attributed to Grade III complications occurred in one patient in Group 1. Conclusion: Multiple-tract access during PCNL is a safe and efficient method to manipulate staghorn kidney stones. Mini PCNL with multiple-tract access is a successful alternative to deal with staghorn stones involving multiple calyces.