Staghorn calculous

[katnoel]

I have had about seven  UTI,s since July this year. I am getting a lot of back

pain, I have had an ultrasound  and have a significant staghorn calculous.
Does anyone know  what the treatment is please.

[David Rudnick, M.D.]

A staghorn calculus is a large kidney stone that is often associated with infection.  It is impossible to permanently cure the UTI until the stone is gone, because there are often bacteria that live in the stone.  The usual approach to getting rid of this kind of stone is called Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL).  This involves putting a tube into the kidney through the back and then looking in through this tube with a scope to break up and pull out the pieces.  This needs to be done by a urologist who is experienced in this procedure.

While many kidney stones can be broken up with sound waves (Lithotripsy), this is NOT the preferred method for most staghorn stones.

[katnoel]

Thanks for that, I saw the visiting  urologist  today and the staghorn occupies the whole left kidney he is making plans for me to have the PCNL  done in Perth. Hopefully it's not too long of a wait.  He said that I may need 2 or 3 operations to remove it all......just waiting now

[David Rudnick, M.D.]

This problem will not go away, so you probably need to make plans to go to Perth.  If you have x-rays like a CT scan, perhaps you could get the local hospital to send them to the urologist in Perth who might do the surgery to shorten the process of getting seen and then getting operated on.

Good luck

[katnoel]

Thanks for reply, I live in the far north of western australa, but the operation if needed would have to be done in Perth  western australa which is almost 2000 Kim's away so would  need to fly down as the major hospitals are all down there.   Is the staghorn  very fast growing as  the first UTI that I got was in July this year and am getting them since then

[David Rudnick, M.D.]

If you do not have access to a urologist who knows how to do this procedure, an alternative might be to have the urologist who visits put in a stent, which is a small plastic tube that runs from the kidney to the bladder and then schedule you for several lithotripsy treatments, if this machine is available where you are.  

Staghorn stones are too big to pass, so they just stay in the kidney.  Repeated infections can be dangerous, although you have probably had the stone for years without necessarily knowing it.

What part of the country do you live in?

[katnoel]

I am wondering if you I  still pass some stones ie if they can still break away ?
Also would like to hear fom anyone ese who's had this op.. I am 2000 Kim's from a city so have to wait to see a visiting urologist who will be in town next week. I,m just wondering if they will class this as urgent or might they put me off. Is it dangerous to leave it like this....thanks for your help