Effects of Electrohydraulic Lithotripsy on the Rabbit Bladder According to the Distance

Sohn, Houng Gyu; Chang, Hyug Jun; Lee, Kyung Sup; Ha, Dal Bong; Bae, Han Ik

Abstract

Currently many modalities are available for intracorporeal stone fragmentation. Among them electrohydraulic lithotripsy destructs stone by the effects produced when An electric discharges occurs in a liquid medium. Though electrohydraulic lithotripsy fragments all kinds of urinary calculi effectively, the major limitation of electrohydraulic lithotripsy remains the potential for urothelial injury. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the possible acute and long-term tissue effects of this instrument on the rabbit bladder. The tissue effects produced by a electrohydraulic lithotripsy were examined and compared. In all acute animals, visible mucosal lesions were seen at the site of probe firing in the bladder except the minor of 3millimeter-distance group. No significant long-term tissue effects were noted either grossly or pathologically in the 3-week animals. This study confirms our clinical impression that electrohydraulic lithotripsy can provide an efficient and safe modality of intracorporeal lithotripsy through proper patient selection and careful attention to technique.