EVALUATION OF RENAL MORPHOLOGY AND VASCULAR FUNCTION BY COLOR-FLOW DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY

Thirteen male and seven female patients with renal calculi were evalua ted by color flow Doppler sonography (CFDS) for renal morphology and f unction before and after receiving 1000 to 2350 shocks with the Dornie r MPL 9000 lithotripter. No significant morphologic change was encount ered except for renal enlargement thought to be secondary to edema ind uced by shock wave application. Similarly, no significant differences were recorded in the systolic and diastolic flow rates or pulsatility (PI) or resistive (RI) indices of the renal vessels before and after t reatment (P > 0.05). Color flow Doppler sonography appears to be a saf e, noninvasive, and reliable means of evaluating kidneys subjected to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.