Nephroliths and ureteroliths: a new stone age

Nephroliths may obstruct the renal pelvis or ureter, predispose to pyelonephritis, or result in compressive injury of the renal parenchyma leading to progressive chronic kidney disease. Indications for removal of nephroliths in dogs include obstruction, recurrent infection, progressive nephrolith enlargement, presence of clinical signs (renal pain), and patients with nephroliths in a solitary functional kidney. The most common indication for removal of upper tract uroliths in cats is ureteral obstruction caused by ureteroliths. Nonobstructive nephroliths in cats are not usually treated unless they move into the ureter resulting in ureteral obstruction.

The treatment approach to nephroliths and ureteroliths is different for dogs versus cats. Surgical removal of nephroliths or ureteroliths by nephrotomy and ureterotomy respectively is associated with potential for complications in more than 30% of cats treated by ureterotomy; therefore, minimally invasive options should also be considered. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment of nephroliths results in small “passable” stone fragments in most dogs, whereas ESWL does not work effectively in cats. Ureteral stents are effective for relief of ureteral obstruction by ureteroliths in both dogs and cats. Ureteral stents may be left in place long-term to relieve ureteral obstruction by ureteroliths. Post-operative morbidity and mortality are substantially lower for ureteral stent placement compared to open surgical ureterotomy in cats.     

三金排石汤加减方在输尿管结石围手术期的疗效观察

目的 观察三金排石汤加减方在输尿管结石围手术期的临床疗效及1年后肾积水改善、结石复发情况。方法 将所选取的135例患者完全随机分为综合治疗1组、综合治疗2组和手术组三组,均予以行输尿管镜碎石取石术、留置D-J管及术后对症治疗,而综合治疗1组间断服用中药半年,综合治疗2组仅术后服用中药半个月。观察3组治疗前后中医证候积分、术后住院时间及血尿清除时间、不良反应发生情况,1年后肾脏积水改善结石复发情况。结果 治疗后综合治疗组、手术组均能明显改善输尿管结石症状,且综合治疗组的疗效明显优于手术组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;综合治疗组在术后住院时间、血尿清除时间、不良反应发生情况上,均优于手术组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;在1年后结石复发情况方面,综合治疗1组未见结石复发,与综合治疗2组、手术组比较,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 在输尿管结石围手术期服用中药三金排石汤加减方能明显降低手术并发症、改善保留D-J管的不良反应及预防结石复发疗效确切,值得临床使用及深入研究。     

Complications associated with transurethral endoscopic‐assisted electrohydraulic lithotripsy for treatment of a bladder calculus in a gelding

A cystic calculus approximately 6 cm in diameter was diagnosed by ultrasonography and endoscopy in a 12‐year‐old Trakehner gelding with a history of haematuria and dysuria. Transurethral endoscopic lithotripsy with electrohydraulic shock waves was performed as a minimally invasive treatment option. Fragmentation of the calculus was achieved, the fragments of the calculus left in the bladder and excretion assisted by infusion of Ringer's solution. Twenty‐four hours after the third lithotripsy, the horse suffered a recurrence of dysuria and pollakiuria due to partial obstruction of the urethra by the calculus fragments. The treatment was repeated within the urethra until clearance of the fragments was achieved. The sharp fragments had produced a zone of urethral mucosal trauma, approximately 10 cm in length. At the follow‐up visit 4 weeks later, the patient had developed inflammation and swelling of the urethral mucosa, which was successfully treated with a 14 day course of anti‐inflammatory drugs. This resulted in normal urination. At the last follow‐up, the horse had been recurrence‐free for 12 months.     

Numerical analysis of the spherical surface piezoelectricity ceramics extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy launch

We calculate a few numerical solutions of the focusing question related to different flare angle spherical surface piezoelectric ceramics ESWL shock waves. To do so, we first calculate the actual dynamic focus of spherical surface shock waves near the center of a sphere launched by the spherical surface piezoelectricity ceramics (ESWL) by using a discrete form of the Chisnell Chester Whitham(CCW) beam method. The numerical results show a focusing characteristic of the shock waves near the spherical surface piezoelectricity ceramics EWSL's geometric center, namely near the center of a sphere. The actual dynamic focus is not the center of the sphere but was somewhat offset. The focusing energy and the pressure ratio in the axis increase as the angles increase.     

术后胆管难取性残留结石的治疗

目的：探讨术后肝内外胆管难取性残留结石安全有效的治疗方法。方法：采用碎石、表麻胆管松动结石、水压冲击和结石表面注入H202后经胆道镜取石的方法治疗136例胆道难取性残留结石。结果：136例中，用活检钳碎石83例；用1％利多卡因注入含残石胆管、胆管壁松驰，结石松动套入取石网篮碎石18例；用生理盐水加压冲击胆管使结石松动，再用网蓝碎石19例；注入H202至残石表面，使之腐蚀碎石16例。结论：活检钳碎石，表麻后松驰胆管壁，生理盐水加压冲洗胆管和注入H202至残石表面腐蚀变小，再套入取石网蓝勒夹碎石，是治疗肝内外胆管术后残留难取性结石的较为简便、有效、安全的方法。     

Ureteral obstructions in dogs and cats: a review of traditional and new interventional diagnostic and therapeutic options

Objective – To describe and review both traditional and newer diagnostic and therapeutic options for canine and feline ureteral obstructions currently being performed clinically in veterinary medicine. Data Sources – A Medline search with no date restrictions was used for this review. Human Data Synthesis – The human literature would support the use of minimally invasive endourological techniques for the treatment of nearly all causes of ureteral obstructions, whenever possible. This typically includes extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, intracorporeal lithotripsy via retrograde ureteroscopy or antegrade percutaneous nephroureterolithotomy, ureteral stenting, percutaneous nephrostomy tube placement, and laparoscopic endopyelotomy. Typically open surgery is only suggested in cases of ureteral or gynecological malignancy when en bloc resection is considered a good option, or when various methods of endourological techniques have failed. Veterinary Data Synthesis – The veterinary literature is scarce on the use of interventional endourological techniques for the treatment of ureteral obstructions and has been growing over the last 5 years. The current literature reports the use of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for ureteral stones, as well as the use of ureteral stents for the treatment of trigonal obstructive transitional cell carcinoma, ureterolithiasis, and ureteral strictures. Traditional surgical interventions, like ureterotomy, ureteronephrectomy, and ureteral reimplantation is more vastly reported and accepted. This review will focus on new clinical data using interventional endourological techniques for ureteral obstructions. Conclusions – Various treatment options for ureteral obstructions are now available for veterinary patients, and the trend away from traditional surgical techniques will hopefully be followed now that they are technically and clinically available for dogs and cats.     

The use of pneumatic impact lithotripsy and a retrieval pouch to create a closed system for removal of cystic calculi in standing male horses

Multiple techniques exist for removal of cystic calculi in the male horse, some of which use a perineal urethrotomy (PU) to facilitate access to the urinary bladder for removal of small uroliths in the standing, sedated horse. These techniques have limited efficacy in the removal of uroliths that have a diameter larger than the PU site, typically 4–5 cm. Pneumatic lithotripsy as reported in this article provides a novel way to fragment these larger uroliths while containing the fragments and protecting the urethra and urinary bladder. Ten geldings and one stallion underwent a lithotripsy procedure to remove one (n = 10) or several (n = 1) uroliths ranging in diameter from 4 to 9 cm. A PU was performed and a laparoscopic retrieval bag was inserted into the urinary bladder through the PU site. The urolith was manipulated into the bag using blind transrectal manipulation or endoscopic guidance and the opening of the bag was exteriorised out of the PU site. A pneumatic lithotrite was used to fragment the stone. When the urolith was adequately fragmented, the fragments were removed by the use of sponge forceps and by flushing the fragments from the bag with obstetrical lube. This was continued until the bag could smoothly be withdrawn from the urinary bladder. All uroliths were successfully removed. The PU sites healed without complication and none of the horses had recurrence of presenting clinical signs. This article also discusses the difference between two types of laparoscopic retrieval bags. Pneumatic impact lithotripsy in combination with a retrieval pouch offers a safe alternative to other methods for removal of cystic calculi in the horse.