Intracorporeal Pneumatic Lithotripsy for Treatment of Vesical Stone in Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND : Pediatric vesical stones constitute 30% of all urinary tract stones in the developing countries. Management of pediatric urolithiasis has evolved from open surgery to minimally invasive techniques OBJECTIVE : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of vesical stone in pediatric age group.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty children (2 female and 38 male) with bladder calculi were evaluated in this prospective study and managed by transurethral pneumatic cystolithotripsy at the department of urology in Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital during the period January 2010 through December2012. The age ranged between 2 years and 10 years with a mean age of 4.6 years. Bladder stone size ranged from 8mm to 17mm ,plain X-ray kidney, ureter and bladder (KUB) revealed that 28 patient's calculi were radiopaque and 12 patient's calculi were radiolucent , History and physical examination were performed. Laboratory investigations included complete blood count, blood urea, serum creatinine and urine analysis. Radiological examination included plain X-ray kidney, ureter and bladder (KUB) ,ultrasound and Excretory urogram (EU). transurethral pneumatic lithotripsy of bladder stone was done using semi rigid 9FR ureteroscope, after initial cystoscopy, Stone was fragmented with pneumatic lithoclast probe (3mm tip, storz). After completing the procedure 8-12 FR urethral Foley catheter was passed. Foley catheter was removed after 24-72 hours .RESULT: After one session of cystolithoclast, 92.5% (37) children became stone free. The mean operative time was 41.575 minutes with a range of (35-75 min).In this study the complications included significant hematuria in 5 patients (12.5%), urine retention in one patient (2.5%), and residual stone in 3 patients (7.5%) .CONCLUSION: Pneumatic lithotripsy using ureteroscope appears to be an effective and safe treatment method for bladder stone in children. .