Objective: To evaluate risk factors, clinical presentation, therapeutic management, and treatment of residual stones and subsequent development of renal hematoma following Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL).
Material and methods: A retrospective review was made of 31 post-ESWL renal hematoma cases diagnosed between May 1987 and June 1996. Lithotripsy treatments were outpatient procedures without anaesthesia. Our center has three electromagnetic sources, two with biplane X-ray centering and one ultrasound-guided (SIEMENS Lithostar II, SIEMENS Lithostar System C and SIEMENS Lithostar Ultra, respectively). We analysed findings from patient history, physical examination, blood analysis, and renovesical sonographs. Follow-up involved periodical checks, blood analyses and renovesical sonographs, scheduled first at three-month intervals and later at six-month intervals.
Results: Our center performed 21 699 lithotripsies on a total of 10 953 patients in this period. Thirty-one renal hematomas were diagnosed, giving an incidence rate of 0.28%. Twenty-four patients presented clinical onsets and the commonest symptom for consultation was low back pain (74%). Eleven patients of this group (46%) were hypertensive. All patients received conservative treatment. With a mean follow-up time of 18 months, ultrasound showed persistent hematoma in 11 patients (36%). There were residual stones in 71% of patients; further lithotripsy was performed on seven patients with no clinical or ultrasonographic signs of change in the hematoma.
Conclusions: Renal hematoma post-ESWL is a rare complication. Main risk factors are hypertension, clotting disorders and previous ESWL sessions. Flank pain is the main symptom at presentation. Elective management is conservative. Presence of hematoma is not a contraindication for further treatments of residual stones.