Renal hematoma as a complication of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

To evaluate risk factors, clinical presentation, therapeutic management, and treatment of residual stones and subsequent development of renal hematoma following Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).

A retrospective review was made of 31 post-ESWL renal hematoma cases diagnosed between May 1987 and June 1996. Lithotripsy treatments were outpatient procedures without anaesthesia. Our center has three electromagnetic sources, two with biplane X-ray centering and one ultrasound-guided (SIEMENS Lithostar II, SIEMENS Lithostar System C and SIEMENS Lithostar Ultra, respectively). We analysed findings from patient history, physical examination, blood analysis, and renovesical sonographs. Follow-up involved periodical checks, blood analyses and renovesical sonographs, scheduled first at three-month intervals and later at six-month intervals.

Our center performed 21 699 lithotripsies on a total of 10 953 patients in this period. Thirty-one renal hematomas were diagnosed, giving an incidence rate of 0.28%. Twenty-four patients presented clinical onsets and the commonest symptom for consultation was low back pain (74%). Eleven patients of this group (46%) were hypertensive. All patients received conservative treatment. With a mean follow-up time of 18 months, ultrasound showed persistent hematoma in 11 patients (36%). There were residual stones in 71% of patients; further lithotripsy was performed on seven patients with no clinical or ultrasonographic signs of change in the hematoma.

Renal hematoma post-ESWL is a rare complication. Main risk factors are hypertension, clotting disorders and previous ESWL sessions. Flank pain is the main symptom at presentation. Elective management is conservative. Presence of hematoma is not a contraindication for further treatments of residual stones.