[Dose loads on the patients in extracorporeal shok-wave lithotripsy (ESWL)]

The method of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is widely practiced in urology as effective and less traumatic. Utilization of x-ray and video control during ESWL sessions raises the problem of radiation protection of the patient and medical personnel as well as registration of the exposure dose for estimation of further permissible doses. The examination covered 48 patients of different age suffering from urolithiasis. All of them received ESWL treatment using units URAT (Russia) and LITOSTAR (Germany) having x-ray positioning. It was found that mean effective dose load for LITOSTAR unit was higher than for URAT unit. The larger part of the dose is generated while localizing the stone and focusing. URAT is furnished with logements protecting vital organs. This is of particular importance for children. ESWL departments with TV x-rat system should meet the requirements for jobs with occupational hazards. In multisession lithotripsy dynamic monitoring should be performed by ultrasound X-ray examination should be employed only in growing dilatation of the renal pelvis, prodromal signs of acute pyelonephritis and failure of the effects to eliminate concrements.