Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for cystine urolithiasis in children: outcome and complications.

The Siemens Lithostar Litotriptor was used to treat 6 children with cystine nephrolithiasis, previously treated by open surgery. Five children had renal calculi (3 multiple caliceal, 2 pelvis) and one had ureteral calculus. Stone size ranged from 0.2-2.5 cm in diameter, and stone burden was from 0.24 to 10.81 cm3 per kidney. From one to 4 ESWL sessions per unit were applied, with a total of 1,800 to 12,000 shock waves. The stone free rate at 3 months was 50%. A complete elimination was obtained with cystine stones in renal pelvis and ureter, however, up to 4 ESWL treatments failed in caliceal stones. Rather location of cystine calculi than previous surgery was associated with ESWL success rate. Two patients with positive urine cultures were successfully treated with appropriate antibiotics before ESWL was attempted. Perirenal hematoma was major complication demonstrated by radionuclide scintigraphy in one patient, and resolved spontaneously by 3 months. In the combined treatment of cystine urolithiasis in children ESWL, as auxillary procedure, was safe and effective in pelvis stone but failed in caliceal stones. Medical dissolution for retained fragments was found effective.