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Painless piezoelectric extracorporeal lithotripsy
M Marberger1, C Türk, I Steinkogler
1Department of Urology, Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria.
The Journal of Urology
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Piezoelectric extracorporeal lithotripsy effectively disintegrates most kidney stones with minimal pain, requiring few repeat treatments. This mobile ultrasound-guided method offers a highly tolerable alternative for stone removal.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Medical Devices
- Nephrology
Background:
- Kidney stones (renoureteral calculi) affect a wide age range.
- Extracorporeal lithotripsy is a common treatment modality.
- Pain and need for sedation are common concerns with lithotripsy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mobile piezoelectric extracorporeal lithotripsy with ultrasound localization.
- To assess treatment outcomes based on stone burden and location.
- To compare piezoelectric lithotripsy with other methods.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of 693 stones in 438 renoureteral units using a mobile piezoelectric lithotriptor and ultrasound localization.
- Classification of stones into four groups based on size and multiplicity.
- Assessment of stone-free rates, need for repeat treatments, and adverse events.
Main Results:
- 97.2% of stones were disintegrated; 39% required repeat treatments.
- Stone-free rates after 3 months varied by group: 92% (group 1), 73% (group 2), 74% (group 3), 50% (group 4).
- 96.2% of treatments required no sedation or analgesics; transient hematuria and mild fever were common side effects.
Conclusions:
- Piezoelectric extracorporeal lithotripsy is an efficient and largely painless method for treating kidney stones.
- Ultrasound localization enables comprehensive treatment of renal stones but has limitations for ureteral stones.
- The procedure demonstrates comparable efficacy to spark-gap lithotripsy with improved patient comfort.