Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. An approach to branched and staghorn renal calculi.

Using electrohydraulic lithotripsy, we removed branched or staghorn calculi from four patients via a percutaneous nephrostomy tract with local anesthesia. There were no serious complications, and the patients were able to resume their preadmission activities immediately after discharge from the hospital. Our experience suggests that, eventually, all upper urinary tract calculi may be treatable by a percutaneous approach.