Case report demonstrates effective stone removal in a patient with refractory infection, suggesting a new treatment option.
Refractory infectious renal calculi with severe pyonephrosis pose a clinical dilemma due to ineffective drainage and contraindicated percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We report a 56-year-old male with diabetes and paraplegia who developed left renal pelvic calculi (2.5 cm) with refractory infection after failed stenting/nephrostomy. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyelolithotomy was performed, achieving complete stone removal and pus drainage. The patient recovered uneventfully with no infection recurrence at 3-month follow-up. This procedure is a safe, effective minimally invasive salvage therapy for PCNL-ineligible patients with refractory infectious renal calculi, with high clinical application value.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Zhou et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: