Urolithiasis in pregnancy--a clinical challenge

Symptomatic urolithiasis in pregnancy is a rare event. We present a series of 13 cases. Although controversial, we think that X-rays should be avoided if possible. Ultrasound may not be the perfect diagnostic tool in every case of stone disease, however in pregnancy it is the imaging of choice and led to an accurate diagnosis in all our cases. Thirty-eight percent of the patients were managed conservatively throughout their pregnancy, and another thirty-eight percent of our patients needed more extended treatment but could be managed by simple insertion of a double J ureteric stent (DJ). Therefore, in our series invasive treatment was not necessary in the majority of patients. Each one patient required a percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) and a nephrectomy for a non-functional pyonephrotic kidney. Urolithiasis in pregnant women constitutes a challenge for the treating urologists since they are deprived of some of their essential tools, such as X-rays and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), and since normally tolerable complications of less invasive treatments can have disastrous consequences in pregnant patients. Therefore, decisions on any kind of treatment have to be made very prudently and critically. We present an algorithm for the management of stones in pregnancy which may be helpful in decision making.