Percutaneous extraction of renal calculi in patients with solitary kidneys.

Percutaneous techniques have become widely accepted for the management of many patients with renal calculi. Little is known, however, about the efficacy of utilizing these procedures for patients with solitary kidneys. We studied five such patients to determine whether percutaneous techniques could be utilized safely, effectively, and efficiently in this setting. The results achieved suggest that the percutaneous removal of renal calculi should be considered a viable treatment option for selected patients with stones in solitary kidneys.