title: Pneumatic lithotripsy: a new modality for treatment of ureteric stones.
abstract: Two hundred and twenty ureteric stones in 214 patients were fragmented intracorporeally by pneumatic lithotripsy under general/regional anaesthesia in a day care set-up. Patients were followed-up weekly and retreatment was done at 4 weeks where necessary. Majority (77%) of patients were in the age group 21-40 years with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Stone location was 86% in the lower third, 11% in the middle and 3% in the upper third ureter. Size of stones was less than 6 mm in 14%, 7-12 mm in 67% and more than 20 mm in 4% cases. All 81% stones of < 12 mm were fragmented in one treatment session while single treatment rate for stones 13-18 mm was 85% and 44% for more than 20 mm size. Overall non-fragmentation rate was 0.9%. Stone free state at four weeks was 95%. Complications were observed in 8.6% cases which included urosepsis, haematuria and perforations. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) in 45 stones showed majority (64%) to be composed of calcium oxalate. Our experience shows that PL is a safe and effective means of performing intracorporeal lithotripsy for both large and hard ureteric stones.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Naqvi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rizvi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*