In September 1987, a second-generation extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (Piezolith 2200) was installed in our clinic, and the first Japanese clinical trial has been carried out. In this report, our experience with the first 50 patients, treated and followed-up for more than 3 months, is presented.
Eleven patients were with bilateral renal stones. The locations of total 82 stones in 61 renal units of the 50 patients were renal calyces (55), renal pelvis (11), ureteropelvic junction (9) and upper third ureter (7). A total of 79 sessions were carried out for disintegration of the stones (1.3 session/renal unit). The auxiliary procedures performed before ESWL include flushing-up of 7 ureteral stones into renal pelvis, double-pigtail stent placement in 3 large renal stones and one PNL for a stag-horn stone.
Single session was satisfactory in 46 renal units (75%), while two or more sessions were necessitated in 25% of stones less than 10mm in diameter and 66% of those larger than 20mm. The number of sessions and shock waves given increased with the stone burden; in 35 patients who were satisfactorily treated with single session, the stone diameter and total stone load as well as the frequency of impacted stones (UPJ stone, calyceal stone in narrow inf undibula) were apparently smaller than in those who underwent multiple sessions. There was, however, no remarkable difference of stone component between these 2 groups. If the stone size is smaller than 10mm in diameter, 74 per cent of them disappears completely after one session. On the other hand, only one third of stones larger than 20mm were disposed of after single session.
Because of the relatively small size of the focal area of Piezolith 2200, the number of shock waves necessitated increases with the size of the stone. For the stone which is less than 10mm in diameter, about 3300 shock waves are satisfactory, while twice or three times shock waves are required for stone fragmentation of larger stones. The laboratory data in the first 35 out of the 50 patients did not differ before and 7 days after treatment, although transient increases in serum BUN level and white blood cell count was observed on the 3rd day after the treatment.
In order to examine the possible adverse effects on perirenal tissue by the shock waves of Piezolith 2200, the serum levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), amylase and aldolase were studied in 19 patients who received more than 4000 shock waves. There was, however, no significant changes of these values during the period studied.
The difficulty of stone localization with the ultrasound sectar scanner was encountered in a few patients who were either fat or had history of previous open surgery.
In the 3 month follow-up period, 34 out of the 50 patients became completely stone free, and 13 other patients turned out to have residual stones which were less than 3mm in size. Including all these patients, the ESWL with Piezolith 2200 was clinically successful in 94% in the present study. There was no major complication, and minor complications include fever at 8 percent and colicky pain at 4 per cent.
Although our experience is still limited, it is concluded that ESWL with this second generation lithotripter is effective for renal stones, and clinically much safer than other lithotripters. Because the procedure is totally anesthesia free, ambulatory treatment may be made in some selected cases in the future.
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