title: How do the residual fragments after SWL affect the health-related quality of life? A critical analysis in a size-based manner.
abstract: This study aimed at evaluating the possible effects of residual fragments (RF) after shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) on the health-related quality of life (QOL) of the patients on a size-related basis. Eighty six patients with RF after SWL were divided into three groups: Group 1 (n:30 with fragments ≤ 2 mm), Group 2 (n:21 2-≤ 4 mm) and Group 3 (n:35 > 4 mm). During a 3-month follow-up, spontaneous passage rates, emergency department visits, mean analgesic required, additional procedures and the QOL were all evaluated. QOL was evaluated using the Short Form-36 survey. Of the 30 patients with fragments ≤ 2 mm all cases passed the fragments spontaneously. Of the 21 cases with fragments 2-≤ 4, however, 76% were stone free. Last, of the 35 cases with fragments >4 mm, 52% passed them spontaneously in 3 months. While no patient with fragments ≤ 2 mm required emergency department visit, 19% of the cases with fragments 2-≤ 4 mm and 51.4 % with fragments >4 mm did require this visit. Mean analgesic need (mg) values were higher in cases with larger fragments. Evaluation of the QOL score data in a subgroup comparison base showed that cases with larger fragments had prominently lower scores during both 1- and 3-month evaluation. RF after SWL could pose an impact on the QOL of the cases in a size-related basis. While fragments ≤ 2 mm had nearly no impact on this aspect larger fragments could significantly affect the QOL.
authors.affiliation: Urology Clinic, Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, cahitsahin129@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafkasli
authors.forename: Cihangir A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cetinel
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Narter
authors.forename: Erkin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarica
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult