Shock wave lithotripsy in patients with renal calculi.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the efficacy of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in the primary treatment of 1647 patients with renal calculi using a Dornier Doli U/50 lithotripter. METHODS: One thousand and six hundred forty-seven patients underwent SWL as day-cases at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between October 2001 and July 2007, using intravenous sedation (Pethidine 1mg/kg and Midazolam 5-10mg) for analgesia in 85.5% of the patients. The treatment outcome of 2241 renal calculi was analyzed and stratified according to the size and the site of the stones. Recorded data included shock waves intensity, number of shocks, treatment time, analgesia, stone related factors such as size, site, number, nature, composition, and any related complications. The stones were grouped into 5 groups according to the largest stone size in the kidney. Patients were followed up for 6-18 months, mean of 13 months. RESULTS: Complete clearance of the stones occurred in 2154 kidneys (89.5%). At 3-months follow up. The overall re-treatment rate was 57.2% and for each group it was 132 (23.5%) for Group I, 254 (36.1%) for Gourp II, 473 (85.5%) for Group III, 278 (100%) for Group IV and 147 100% for Group V. Treatment failed in 87 patients with stone size of 20-29mm in 57 patients, and in 30 patients with stone size of 30-39mm. Fifty-six were solitary pelvic stones treated with ureteroscopy, while 31 were calyceal stones treated by other modalities such as percutaneousnephro-lithotomy. The most common complication was pyelonephritis with or without obstruction. CONCLUSION: Shock wave lithotripsy treatment was a successful primary management of renal stones of variable sizes in 89.5% of the treated kidneys.

Fournier's gangrene in diabetic and renal failure patients.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in the management of 9 patients with Fournier's gangrene seen in our institute, to identify the most common prognostic variables in our patients, and to evaluate the outcome of aggressive management in patients with Fournier's gangrene. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 9 patients admitted to King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from November 1999 until November 2002. Their age, sex, clinical presentation, predisposing factors, microbiology testing, management and prognosis were studied. RESULTS: Nine male patients were diagnosed and treated. The mean age was 68 years, 6 patients (66.6%) were diabetics and one of them had renal insufficiency not requiring dialysis, while 3 patients were on regular hemodialysis. Bacterial culture results revealed a single organism in 44.4%, and more than one organism in 55.6% of the cases. No anaerobes could be cultured, and one patient had Candida albicans. All patients had temporary suprapubic catheter diversion while stool diversion by colostomy was required in only one patient. In 7 patients, aggressive debridement and parental antimicrobial were successful to eradicate the infection, whereas 2 patients (22.2% of the cases) died of uncontrolled sepsis. CONCLUSION: Fournier's gangrene is a very serious disease, understanding the criteria of early recognition of the disease, referral to the specialist, and aggressive debridement with the use of appropriate antimicrobial therapy will improve the outcome of the patients and decrease the mortality rate.