Management of the papillae during intrarenal surgery.

The papillae are involved in renal disease and, hence, are an inextricable consideration in intrarenal surgical procedures. Guide lines for their management are newly emergent and, consequently, tentative. If divided along intra-arterial planes they appear to heal with little functional impairment. Resections of papillae, which are limited to the intracaliceal portions, involve no medullary structures and heal without apparent dysfunction.