Abstract
The aim of the study was to analyse the frequency and type of early complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and to assess the safety of the procedure among paediatric patients. The study is a retrospective analysis of all ESWL procedures carried out due to urolithiasis in 2009-2015 in the Department of Paediatrics, Nephrology and Allergology of the Military Institute of Medicine. Medical records of 170 children were analysed: 94 girls (55.3%) and 76 boys (44.7%) aged 1 to 18 years. Out of the 272 procedures performed, 247 were included in the study. Among 233 effective ESWL treatments, complications were noted in 35 (15.02%) procedures: among 10 girls (40%) and 15 boys (60%). In 25 cases (10.73%) surgical intervention was necessary due to urinary obstruction caused by a fragment of a disintegrated stone. Urinary tract infection was present among 3 patients (1.29%) who required surgical treatment. Nonsurgical complications included 7 urinary tract infections (3%) and 3 cases of severe abdominal pain (1.29%). Complications such as perirenal haematoma, subcapsular haematoma or ureteral perforation were not observed. The vast majority of complications observed in the study were associated with urinary obstruction caused by partial blockage of the ureter with kidney stone fragments ("steinstrasse"). Despite the complications that were documented, ESWL should be considered a safe procedure.