Effectiveness of Percutaneous Cystolithotripsy in Pediatric Age Group

Abstract

Background: Urolithiasis is a prevalent condition in tropical and subtropical regions, with the urinary bladder being the primary site for stone formation in the lower urinary tract, accounting for 5% of urinary calculi.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous cystolithotripsy (PCCL) in the pediatric age group.

Methods: This was a descriptive study carried out at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, for six months. There were 104 children aged between 5 and 18 years with bladder stones of size less than 3 cm. PCCL was done by a skilled urologist. Complete clearance of the stone and postoperative complications were the outcomes measured. Data was analyzed using SPSS v22 with significance at P ≤ 0.05.

Results: Among the 104 patients, with a mean age of 9.2 ± 3.4 years, 92.3% achieved complete stone clearance. Complications were observed in 14.4% of patients, including hematuria (3.8%), infection (4.8%), urine extravasation (1.9%), and sepsis (1.0%). There were no significant differences in stone clearance rates based on gender, socioeconomic status, or place of residence. Although not statistically significant, stones smaller than 1.5 cm showed a higher clearance rate of 100%, compared to a clearance rate of 89.2% for stones larger than 1.5 cm.

Conclusion: PCCL is a safe and effective treatment for pediatric bladder stones, with high rates of stone clearance and low complication rates. It is suggested that further studies with larger series and longer follow-up should be done to validate these findings and observe recurrence.