Is shock wave lithotripsy safe in bleeding diathesis?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in treatment of urinary calculi, in patients with bleeding diathesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1996 to 2004, seven patients with bleeding diathesis were treated by SWL for urolithiasis. Change of oral anticoagulants to heparin (low molecular heparin) and substitution of deficient coagulation factors was done on the day of treatment. RESULTS: Two out of seven patients had mild hematuria, which settled within 48 hours. None of them required transfusion. Six out of seven were stone-free at one month. None of them required any secondary procedure. CONCLUSION: SWL is a safe method for the treatment of urolithiasis in patients with bleeding diathesis, provided deficient coagulation factors are corrected.

Keywords

• Bleeding diathesis
• lithotripsy
• urolithiasis