ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility, efficiency, and predictive factors of therapeutic success of Vibration, Diuresis and Inversion (VDI) therapy for the removal of upper urinary tract stones. METHODS: It is a retrospective, single-center study at the CHU - La Conception, Marseille, France including all patients treated with VDI from 2013 to 2018. VDI was indicated for stones <6mm in first-line treatment or for residual fragments <6mm after ureteroscopy, PCNL, microPCNL. The protocol included 4 sessions in outpatient care from 2013 to 2015 then 6 sessions from 2015 to 2018 and a final radiological evaluation. RESULTS: In total, 109 patients or 489 sessions are reported: median age was 55 years [14-84], median BMI 25kg/m2 [15-37], average cumulative size of kidney stones 3mm ±4. VDI was performed after flexible ureteroscopy (62%), SWL (20%), percutaneous treatment (9%) or as a first-line treatment (9%). Compliance was 87 %. The median VAS during the session was 0[0-8]. The incidence of post-session renal colic was 4% (all Clavien I). The postoperative fragment-free and microfragment rates were respectively 39% and 21%, i.e. an overall success of 60% for kidney stones, and 43% and 21%, i.e. an overall success of 64% for lower pole kidney stones. CONCLUSION: VDI is a simple, non invasive and well tolerated technique for the elimination of small renal lithiasis after SWL, ureteroscopy, PCNL or as a first-line treatment.
