This study reports 8 years of personal experience in percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) of complex renal calculosis. It is emphasised that even in this era of widespread use of extracorporeal lithotripsy (ESWL), PCNL is regaining importance in the more complex cases of renal calculosis, to try to reduce times for adequate stone clearance and to reach a better benefit/cost ratio. A success rate of 87.3% with monotherapy PCNL, 78.6% with debulking PCNL and 91.3% with associated PCNL-ESWL (programmed from the beginning or attempted out of necessity), has convinced us of the correct application we have given the method for treating complex renal calculosis.
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