Anatrophic nephrolithotomy in the solitary kidney.

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients who had undergone anatrophic nephrolithotomy for staghorn calculus disease in a solitary kidney. No statistically significant difference (p greater than 0.1) was found between the average preoperative and postoperative renal function values. Of 27 patients who were infected preoperatively 19 were rendered free of further urinary tract infection and 24 of 30 patients (80 per cent) had no further recurrence of renal calculi. Because of the predictable morbidity and mortality associated with the non-operative management of staghorn calculus disease these patients are managed best by the complete surgical removal of all calculi and intensive antimicrobial therapy.