A Clinical Study of Percutaneous Nephrouretero Lithotripsy by Ultrasound Aspirartor

Percuraneous nephrouretero-lithotriopsy (PNL) is now rapidly spreading as a method for removing upper urinary calculi. However, in most cases, this procedure requires destruction of calculi by some means. The present paper reports the results of clinical evaluation of PNL using an ultrasound lithotriptor (USL) for the destruction of calculi. A USL with an Aloka ultrasound knife, to which a newly developed handpiece was attached, was used. The procedure was performed on upper urinary calculi in 30 kidneys in 28 patients. The rate of complete removal of calculi was 87%. With regard to the site, renal calculi required more time and were associated with a higher incidence of remaining calculi. The time required for destruction increased together with increased size of the calculi. This was particularly so in cases of calculi measuring over 3 cm. In contrast, the number of calculi had no influence on the time required for destruction. There were no side effects related to this procedure. The USL used in this study was useful for PNL.