Laparoscopic surgery for renal urolithiasis: pyelolithotomy, caliceal diverticulectomy, and treatment of stones in a pelvic kidney.

Laparoscopic techniques may be considered for the uncommon patient in whom open stone surgery is considered. Stones in caliceal diverticula not accessible percutaneously may be approached transperitoneally. Pelvic stones in ectopic kidneys can be retrieved laparoscopically through a pyelotomy created with scissors or a knife. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy under laparoscopic guidance can be used if the stone extends beyond the renal pelvis. In the patient with difficult stone disease, laparoscopy does not replace other minimally invasive techniques but rather complements them. It should be the rare patient in the future who needs open surgery for stone removal regardless of its location or the presence of anatomic variants.