Is multiple tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy a safe approach for staghorn calculi?

Purpose To explore the safety of multiple tract percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) in terms of complication and draw a nomogram to predict the possibility of significant renal function decline (SRFD). Materials and methods Patients with complex renal calculi appropriate for PNL at our institution between August 2016 and February 2018 were included in the study. The outcome of single and multiple tract PNL was analyzed retrospectively. A nomogram was created to predict the probability of SRFD. Results 793 (88.4%) patients were treated with single tract PNL (Group 1) and 104 patients (11.6%) treated with multiple tract PNL (Group 2). Group 2 had a significantly greater hemoglobin reduction (16.0 ± 12.5 vs. 11.4 ± 11.8 g/L, p