What is the root operation for removing a Staghorn calculus through a percutaneous nephrostomy tube after lithotripsy?

• A. Resection
• B. Excision
• C. Extirpation
• D. Destruction

Answer: (C)

The root operation for removing a Staghorn calculus through a percutaneous nephrostomy tube after lithotripsy is extirpation. In medical coding and terminology, extirpation refers to the complete removal or destruction of a solid matter from a body part. This includes the removal of abnormal structures, like the Staghorn calculus, which consists of a mass of mineral deposits that have formed in the kidney.

In this scenario, the procedure involves accessing the kidney through a nephrostomy tube, which allows for direct removal of the calculus. The use of the term "extirpation" is appropriate here because the calculus is not merely being excised or resected; it is being completely taken out from its site in the kidney.

Resection generally refers to cutting away a portion of an organ or structure, which doesn’t accurately describe the process of removing a calculus. Excision typically implies removing tissue, while destruction specifically indicates the process of eliminating or rendering something inactive, which in this context would typically refer to treatment methods like lithotripsy rather than physical removal.

In summary, extirpation is the correct root operation as it captures the complete removal of the Staghorn calculus from the kidney through the established nephrostomy tube after