[The role of open nephrolithotomy in the treatment of coralliform stones: a series of 53 patients].

This study aims to discuss the role of open surgery in the treatment of renal lithiasis, including coralliform stones, with the advent of new less invasive techniques. We report a series of 53 cases of coralliform stones whose data were collected in our Hospital during a period of 7 years, from January 2011 to January 2018. The patients underwent open nephrolithotomy by lombotomy. The mean post-operative length of stay was 10 days. The immediate and early postoperative outcomes were simple in 36 patients, 6 patients underwent blood transfusion, 2 had severe sepsis in the postoperative period, 5 had infection of the wall and 4 had urinary fistula, secondarily managed by endoscopic drainage. Residual stones were found in 9 cases (16.9%). Stones were essentially treated by extracorporeal lithotripsy. Late outcomes were characterized by renal atrophy in 2 patients, lithiasic recurrence in 9 patients, an improvement in creatinine clearance in 9 patients and a slight worsening in 5 patients. Open surgery presents the risk of multiple complications and it is not recommended for first-line treatment of renal lithiasis. However it is important to determine which patients would benefit from open nephrolithotomy.