EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL MALFORMATIONS

Twenty-four consecutive patients with malformed kidneys (21 horseshoe kidneys, 2 crossed ectopic and 1 pelvic kidney) underwent extracorpore al shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for nephrolithiasis between 1984 and 1990. No serious complications occurred either during or after treatme nt. Urinary obstruction was accompanied by fever in 3 patients and by renal colic in 4. Auxiliary measures were required in only 2 cases. Pa tients with renal anomalies remained in hospital longer than patients with normal kidneys. Fifteen patients were free of stones 3 months aft er ESWL and 16 after 1 year. Six patients required further ESWL less t han 1 year after their first treatment as a result of stone recurrence or regrowth. ESWL is a safe and successful non-invasive procedure for the treatment of nephrolithiasis in patients with malformed kidneys. However, the higher frequency of stone recurrence and regrowth means t hat these patients must undergo careful monitoring.