Effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on electrocardiogram changes in patients with renal stone

Background and Purpose: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL] is initial treatment of choice for most calculi in the kidney. Although ESWL has many side effects one of which is cardiac arrhythmia, occurring mostly in non-synchronized mode. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on electrocardiogram changes in patients with renal stone

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Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 75 patients with renal stone who were selected by non-probability and convenience sampling. Then electrocardiograph was obtained from participants before, during and after lithotripsy. The relationship between ESWL-associated arrhythmia and autonomic neural activity was evaluated by heart rate spectral analysis. Electrocardiogram changes were interpreted and the data were analyzed in SPSS and SAS using chi-square, independent t-test, paired t-test, McNemar, Cochrane, One-way ANOVA and general linear model

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Results: ESWL was found to elicit new or worsened electrocardiogram changes in 66.7 percent patients with no previous cardiac disease. A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the presence of ventricular premature contractions and analgesic drugs [p<0.001] and between the presence of ventricular tachycardia and treatment duration [p<0.001]

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Conclusion: Shock waves delivered by lithotripsy cause cardiac arrhythmia