Indian Journal of Urology
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2001  |  Volume : 17  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 118--120

Acute complications during and after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

ME Schmidt, S Sharma, G Schoeneich, P Albers, SC Muller 
 Department of Urology, University of Bonn, Germany & Department of Surgery, Govt. Gandhi Nagar Hospital, Jammu, J&K, India

Correspondence Address:
M E Schmidt
Klinik and Poliklinik fur Urologie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strabe 25, D-53105 Bonn, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: ESWL is an effective noninvasive method to treat urolithiasis. Only in rare occasions, complica­tions requiring treatment have been described. Methods: We report three acute major complications during and after ESWL using a Siemens Lithostar plus model (Retroperitoneal haematoma - Rupture of spleen - Car­diac arrest) and compare our experience with the literature. Conclusion: The rate of clinically relevant compli­cations is very love. To recognize severe complications laboratory examination and a sonographic control should be performed after each ESWL.


How to cite this article:
Schmidt M E, Sharma S, Schoeneich G, Albers P, Muller S C. Acute complications during and after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.Indian J Urol 2001;17:118-120


How to cite this URL:
Schmidt M E, Sharma S, Schoeneich G, Albers P, Muller S C. Acute complications during and after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Indian J Urol [serial online] 2001 [cited 2023 Mar 25 ];17:118-120
Available from: https://www.indianjurol.com/text.asp?2001/17/2/118/21039


Full Text

 Introduction



Today more than 90% of therapy of renal and ureteral concrements are treated with extracorporal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). [3]

However, treatment of urolithiasis by means of ESWL is not always without complications. Temporary hae­maturia, subcapsular haematoma and "steinstrasse" (dis­turbance of urinary transport) are well-known early complications of stone disintegration by ESWL. Seri­ous acute complications, however, are rare. Three of them are being described here. In all cases a Siemens Lithostar plus model was used.

 Case Reports



Case number 1: Cardiac arrest during ESWL treatment

A 54-year-old patient with an asymptomatic concre­ment in the midcalyceal group of the left kidney was treated with ESWL.

In his history, syncopal episodes occurred in his adoles­cence during blood withdrawals. His physical checkups were negative and laboratory parameters were within normal range.

An ECG carried out before and while treatment was with­out pathological findings.

While being prepared for ESWL treatment, the patient was given 100 mg of dimenhydrinat for slow intravenous application during ESWL. At the beginning of the session, analgesics were renounced.

After administering 125 shock waves of 19.5 kV, it came to a cardiac arrest. The patient was unconscious and after closed chest compression for 20 seconds combined with the application of atropine i.v., a bradycardiac sinus rhythm re­turned spontaneously. A short time later the patient was well off.

A detailed cardiological examination showed no pathologi­cal alterations. Thus, the cardiac arrest during extracorporal shock wave lithotripsy has to be interpreted as an exceeding vasovagal reaction.

Case number 2: Retroperitoneal haematoma after ESWL treatment

A 60-year-old patient, suffering from acute left-sided flank pain due to a blocking concrement in the proximal part of the ureter and a consecutive third-degree hydronephrosis, was admitted to the hospital.

The physical check-up at admission showed negative find­ings except for left-sided flank pain. No signs of infection, no temperature, no hypertension. Lab values within the nor­mal range.

An initial pushback manoeuvre of the concrement into the left renal pelvis was performed under i.v. antibiotics. Urine transport was secured via a transureteral double-J-splint.

Next day ESWL treatment was done without complica­tions. 2000 shock waves of a maximal doses of 21.5 kV were applied. According to sonography, a good desintegra­tion of concrements was achieved and no haematoma was seen directly after ESWL.

One day later, temperature rose to 38° C, leukocytes increased to l5000/µ1 and CRP rose to 6.5 mgs/dl. At the same time the haemoglobin value dropped continuously from 14.6 mgs/dl to 10.5 mgs/dl. But the patient didn't show clinical symptoms like flank pain.

A retroperitoneal haematoma was suspected by sono­graphy, and computer tomography showed a rupture of the renal capsule with a haematoma of 7 x 8 x 7 cms.

Under conservative therapy including i.v. antibiotic therapy, the patient was discharged one week later in stable condition. A control examination two weeks later showed no signs of infection, lab values within normal range. Hae­moglobin rose to 12.1mgs/dl. The sonography examination showed a decreasing retroperitoneal haematoma.

Case number 3: Rupture of the spleen following ESWL treatment

Admission of a 61-year-old female for auxiliary ESWL with a pelvic cast calculus on the left side. By means of a percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL), 75% of the stone mass had been removed already 6 days before in another urological department and a nephrostomy was draining the kidney. No complications were reported. Postoperative labo­ratory values showed an elevation of liver enzymes (gamma GT 51 U/1; ALT 81 U/1; AST 42 U/1), the haemoglobin value of the patient was 10.6 g/dl; red blood cells (RBC) had decreased to 3600/µ1. The haematocryt was at 32%, platelets were increased up to 510G/l. The coagulation pa­rameters were at a normal range, showing a Quick value of 104% (INR 0.9) and a PTT of 23 seconds.

The sonography examination showed a well-located nephrostomy. There were no signs of any organ injury. Under antiemetic and analgesic protection, two ESWL treatments were performed on the left side on two consecutive days with 2000 shock waves of a power of 21.5 kV, each.

One day after the second ESWL treatment, haemoglobin decreased to 7.9g/dl and white blood cells (WBC) in­creased to 15100/µl. The patient only complained of in­creased tiredness.

Sonographically, the left kidney was without findings except for the already known nephrolithiasis and the well­located nephrostomy catheter. A heterogeneous sonomor­phological pattern of the spleen was alarming. An abdominal computer tomography confirmed the suspected rupture of the spleen.

At the same day, a splenectomy had to be carried out, since attempted repair of the spleen failed. The histologi­cal findings showed a recent traumatic rupture of the spleen with a big subcapsular haematoma and circumscribed parenchymal lacerations.

 Discussion



Since Chaussy et al [3] reported on the first complications after ESWL, the number of cases with complications has increased in the course of the years.

Considering complications induced by ESWL, obstruc­tions of urine transport caused by stone fragments should be separated from those caused by shock waves. The most frequent complications induced by shock waves are the subcapsular and the retroperitoneal haematomas.

According to the method of examination, haematomas following ESWL occur between 0.2 and 23%. While by means of CT or MRT, haematomas are found in 23% of patients after ESWL treatment, follow-up examinations by means of sonography only show haematomas in 0.2 to 2.8% of cases. [2],[5],[7],[12]

Newman and Saltzinan [11] demonstrated in a study that patients with severe subcapsular haematomas are usually detected only by clinical symptoms, such as pain, anuria and cardiac symptoms as well as anaemia.

One case was reported, in whom a life-threatening retro­peritoneal haematoma appeared when half an hour after ESWL, an intravenous anticoagulation was started due to an acute myocardial infarction. [6] Another case has been pub­lished where renal haematomas appeared in both kidneys after synchronous ES WL, which lead to acute renal failure. The patient was treated with multiple concrements in the calyceal systems on both sides in one session (1000 shock waves on the left, 1200 shock waves on the right, 19kV), after having discontinued warfarin 5 days earlier which the patient had to take due to an artificial cardiac valve. [1]

In most cases, haematomas do not have clinical or thera­peutical consequences. Only in a few cases blood transfu­sions are necessary ( [8],[10]

The cardiac arrest during ESWL is extremely rare. In the literature, only one more case has been published. [14]

In our case there was no history of cardiac problems and vasovagal reactions due to ESWL have not been described yet. The exact mechanism by which vasovagal reactions are triggered by ESWL are unknown. Arrhythmias like si­nus tachycardia and sinus bradycardia as well as supraven­tricular or ventricular extra systoles can be observed far more often [14] and can mostly be avoided by ECG-triggered shock wave application. However even in these cases ar­rhythmia can be observed on a few occasions.

Comparing the number of complications to the number of ESWL treatments the rate of clinically relevant com­plications is very low. Consequently, ECG monitoring dur­ing ESWL, a laboratory examination and a sonographic control should be performed after each ESWL treatment so that severe complications can be recognized early and put under control. Pain after ESWL is alarming and in these cases sonographic follow-up should be considered for several days.

Table: Complications during and after ESWL treatment

Hematuria (95 - 100%)"stein stras se" with consecutive urinary obstruction (30%) [Kellum et al., Radiology 165:431-438, 1987]Urinary tract infection / urosepsis (0.3%) [Roth et al, Urol Clin North Am 15:155-166, 1986]Subcapsular / retroperitoneal hematoma (0.25 - 30%) [Newman et al, Urology 1991; 38: 35]Injury of neighbour organs (less than I%) [Drach et al, J Urol 135: 1127-1133, 1986]Cardiac complications (less than 1%)

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