The effect of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy on the contractility of the human pelvicalyceal system.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) on the contractility of the human pelvicalyceal system.


METHODS
Contractions of the pelvicalyceal system were measured in 12 patients (mean age 55 years) before and after EPL. Pelvicalyceal pressure was measured via a Cope nephrostomy tube which had remained in situ following stone debulking procedures days or weeks earlier. All patients were treated using a Wolf Piezolith 2300 lithotripter.


RESULTS
The pelvicalyceal systems of two patients were acontractile before and after treatment. Immediately after treatment, contractions were completely abolished in eight of the remaining 10 systems, and reduced in frequency in the other two. All 10 systems regained contractions 24 h after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Piezoelectric lithotripsy temporarily abolishes upper urinary tract motility.
Hawkyard
S J
SJ
Department of Urology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Parr
N J
NJ
Smith
G
G
Moussa
S A
SA
Tolley
D A
DA
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007670:Kidney Calices / Q000502:physiology; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure