Evaluation of Renal Stone in Patients Treated with Lithotripsy using Ultrasound

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the role of Ultrasound in evaluating of renal stone in patients treated with lithotripsy, by assess the accuracy with which renal stones before ESWL, and the changes in the calculi after( ESWL) and evaluate the possibility of renal scan to detect the Complications of this procedure. The place of this work was lithotripsy Unit of Military Hospital (Omdurman). The duration of study was 6 months from first October 2011 to April 2012,43 patients with renal calculus included in study for ultrasound scan, criteria have been identified. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy(ESWL) application has been intuitively connected to complications. These are related mostly to residual stone fragments, infections, and effects on tissues such as urinary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, genital, and reproductive systems. Recognition of ESWL limitations, use of alternative therapies, correction of pre-existing renal or systemic disease, treatment of urinary tract infection, use of prophylactic antibiotics, and improvement of ESWL efficacy are the most important measures of prevention. Decrease of shock wave number, rate and energy, use of two shock-wave tubes simultaneously, and delivery of two shock waves at carefully timed close intervals improve ESWL efficacy and safety. Conclusion: ESWL is a safe method to treat stones when proper indications are followed. This study demonstrates that, use of sonography before ESWL in patients with nonopaque calculi may be helpful in detecting additional, unsuspected stones. Furthermore, the variable sonographic findings after ESWL as compared with findings of renal tomography indicate that the latter is more useful in evaluating the effectiveness of shock-wave therapy.