What is the cause of staghorn calculus?

Staghorn calculi are most frequently composed of mixtures of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and calcium carbonate apatite; they are strongly associated with UTIs caused by organisms that produce the enzyme urease, which promotes the generation of ammonia and hydroxide from urea.

How is staghorn calculi diagnosed?

Plain abdominal radiography usually documents the extent of struvite staghorn calculi; however, additional imaging tests that reveal the anatomy of the renal collecting system can be helpful.

What is partial staghorn calculus?

The term “partial staghorn” calculus designates a branched stone that occupies part but not all of the collecting system while “complete staghorn” calculus refers to a stone that occupies virtually the entire collecting system.

How do you treat staghorn calculus?

Generally, the gold standard treatment for staghorn stones is surgical with a view to achieve stone-free collecting system and preserve renal function. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy should be the recommended first-line treatment for staghorn stones.

Can you live with a staghorn kidney stone?

Recommendations. A patient with a staghorn stone should be treated. If a staghorn stone is not treated, then renal deterioration occurs in at least 1 out of 4 patients. Over time, an untreated staghorn calculus is likely to destroy the kidney and/or cause life-threatening infections (sepsis).

Can you dissolve a staghorn kidney stone?

Complete removal of staghorn calculi should remain the goal in patients whose comorbidities do not preclude treatment. Treatment options for staghorn calculi include PCNL, shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), ureteroscopy, or a combination of two or more of these treatments.

How is a staghorn kidney stone removed?

In percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy, the surgeon makes a small incision in your back to remove kidney stones. He or she then puts a hollow tube into your kidney and a probe through the tube. In nephrolithotomy, the surgeon removes the stone through the tube.

What causes staghorn kidney stones?

The cause of this type of kidney stone is an underlying infection. Often, a patient will have a urinary tract infection and then staghorn calculi will form in response to the bacteria.

What is a staghorn calculi?

Staghorn Calculus Definition. Staghorn calculi, also sometimes called coral calculi, are renal calculi that obtain their characteristic shape by forming a cast of the renal pelvis and calyces, thus resembling the horns of a stag.

What is the main component of a staghorn calculus?

Staghorn calculi are most frequently composed of mixtures of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and/or calcium carbonate apatite.

Are staghorn kidney stones dangerous?

Struvite (“staghorn”) stones are particularly dangerous because they may grow extremely large, filling the tubes within the kidney. These won’t pass out in the urine, and require surgical removal. Uric acid stones may also become staghorn tones. Patients may be able to prevent certain types of kidney stones.