Abstract
During a 5-year period from April, 1982 to March, 1987, an infra-red spectroscopic analysis was performed on 1, 828 urinary calculi obtained from Kanazawa University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals. The chemical compositions of the calculi were studied in connection to clinical characteristics. Especially, the calculi consist of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate were investigated by dividing them into two groups with less than or more than 10% content of calcium phosphate. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The ratio of the upper urinary tract calculi to the lower one was 7.01 to 1. 2) The ratio of male to female patients was 2.64 to 1. Uric acid calculi were found more frequently in males than in females (p<0.01). On the other hand, magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate calculi were found less frequently in males than in females (p<0.01). 3) The mean ages of patients with uric acid, magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate calculi were significantly higher than those of patients with calculi of the other compositions (p<0.01). 4) The presence of concomitant urinary tract infection was significantly higher in magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate calculi than in the other calculi (p<0.01). 5) The incidence of multiple and/or recurrent calculi was significantly lower in calcium oxalate calculi than in the other calculi (p<0.01). The incidence of spontaneous discharge of calculi was significantly higher in calcium oxalate and lower in magnesium ammonium phosphate calculi than in the other calculi (p<0.01). 6) In 1982 and 1983, 224 stones out of 299 (74.9%) were removed by open surgery. However in 1986 at which time percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and transurethral ureterolithotomy (TUL) were introduced, out of 185 stones, 74 stones (40.0%) were removed by PNL and 48 stones (25.9%) by TUL. Open surgery accounted for only 12.4%.
