Effect of Therasonic Lithotripter LT-1000 for Urinary Tract Calculi in Children

Seo, Young Jin; Chung, Sung Kwang; Park, Yoon Kyu

Abstract

The treatment of urolithiasis in children has been changed dramatically by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and endourological procedure in recent years. Especially, the use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has changed the place of open surgery in the treatment of urinary stones in children. A total of 24 children with 25 renoureteral units underwent treatment with Therasonic Lithotrirter System for urinary tract stones between Feb. 1992 and March 1996. The patient age ranged from 3 months to 14 years with a mean of 4.7 years. The location of stones were renal in 9, upper ureter in 6, and lower ureter in 10 cases. The average stone length was 14mm with a range of 5mm to 50rnm. Developmental anomalies of the urinary tract were noted in 2 children, and there were the incomplete duplicated ureter and the ureterocele. The excreted stones in 5 children were analysed biochemically and calcium oxalate stones were present in 3 cases, calcium phosphate stone in 1 and cystine stone in 1. A complete stone free rate was achieved in 91.7%. Except for one case, no specific complication occurred during or after treatment, but perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was done Therefore, the authors conclude that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of urinary stones in children.