Does extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy cause hearing impairment?

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Nephrology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Urinary stones are a common condition requiring treatment.
• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a widely used, non-invasive method for treating kidney stones.
• Potential side effects of ESWL, including effects on hearing, require thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the impact of ESWL on patient hearing function.
• To assess for any cochlear impairment following ESWL treatment.
• To identify potential auditory complications such as ear pain, tinnitus, or hearing loss.

Main Methods:

• A prospective controlled study included 40 patients with normal hearing, divided into ESWL and control groups (20 each).
• ESWL group received 3 sessions with standardized parameters (3000 shocks, 126 J energy).
• Hearing function and cochlear status were assessed using Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) at various frequencies before and after ESWL, with follow-up evaluations.

Main Results:

• Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions data showed no significant alterations in the ESWL group compared to baseline values.
• No statistically significant changes in hearing function were observed between the study and control groups post-treatment.
• Patient-reported complications like ear pain or tinnitus were not significantly increased after ESWL.

Conclusions:

• Standardized extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a safe procedure for treating urinary stones.
• ESWL does not cause detectable harmful effects on the hearing function of treated patients.
• The findings support the continued use of ESWL as an effective and safe treatment option.