Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in a 10-month-old girl with staghorn calculus

 

António V. Silva¹, Diana A. Moreira¹, Armando Reis², Filipe Rodrigues³, Graça Ferreira¹, Eduarda Marques¹, António Vilarinho¹

¹Department of Paediatrics, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

² Department of Paediatric Urology, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal.

³Department of Urology, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal.

Correspondence to:

 

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Urolithiasis is rare in developed countries. Staghorn calculi are a type of upper urinary tract stone that involves the renal pelvis and extends into at least two calyces. Although all types of urinary stones can potentially form staghorn calculi, approximately 75% are composed of a struvite matrix and are generally associated with urinary tract infection caused by urea -splitting bacteria. Curative treatment is possible only by eliminating all of the stone fragments and by eradicating urinary tract infections.

Case Report: We present a case of a 10-month–old girl with a staghorn calculus caused by multiple urinary tract infections. After urine sterilisation, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was performed during separate sessions. Following her last treatment, the child is free of nephrolithiasis.

Conclusion: Struvite calculi should be considered in all children with Proteus urinary tract infection. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an efficient and safe treatment in young children (<2 years) and should be considered as the first option.

Key-Words: infant; lithotripsy; staghorn calculi.

 

INTRODUCTION

The incidence, composition and clinical characteristics of urinary calculi in children vary greatly from one part of the world to another^1-3. Urolithiasis is rare (incidence of 1-2 children per million total population per annum) in developed countries, where less than 1% of all renal stones occur in children younger than 10 and most stones have bolic origin².

Struvite calculi account for approximately 5 -10% of stones in children^2,4. The peak incidence is at 2 years old with predominance in males (80%)^1,2,5. Staghorn calculi are a type of upper urinary tract stone that involves the renal pelvis and extends into at least two calyces⁶. Although all types of urinary stones can potentially form staghorn calculi, approximately 75% are composed of a struvite matrix (magnesium ammonium phosphate )⁷. Struvite calculi are generally associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). UTI caused by urea-splitting bacteria (Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and others) result in urinary alkalinisation and excessive production of ammonia, which can lead to the precipitation of struvite and calcium phosphate^7,8.

Curative treatment is possible only by eliminating all of the stone fragments and by eradicating UTI^8,9. Staghorn calculi are unquestionably an indication for interventional therapy (extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL], percutaneous nephrolithotomy, retrograde ureteroscopic stone disintegration using a holmium laser or open surgery )⁶. Conservative treatment is not an acceptable therapeutic option in this clinical situation⁶. A noninvasive approach such as ESWL is a safe and efficient treatment in children with staghorn calculi.

CASE REPORT

A female, first-born baby of non-consanguineous parents, with normal antenatal ultrasound diagnosis, was delivered vaginally at 38 weeks gestation, with Apgar 8/9, with no need of reanimation. Anthropometry at delivery was appropriate for the gestational age.

At the age of five months, she experienced the first episode of pyelonephritis, which was promptly diagnosed and correctly treated. Escherichia coli lwasisolated from urine culture. Renal ultrasonography revealed bilateral mild ureterohydronephrosis. Prophylactic trimethoprim was initiated. Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) revealed vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) grade II at the right kidney. Screening for persistent bacteriuria after episode of UTI was negative.

At the age of nine months, she developed another episode of pyelonephritis and a Proteus mirabilis was isolated from urine culture. Renal ultrasonography revealed an echogenic calculus of seven millimeters (mm) at left renal pelvis.

At the age of ten months, she developed the third episode of pyelonephritis in five months. Escherichia coli was isolated from urine culture. Renal ultrasonography revealed a staghorn calculus at left renal pelvis (35 mm) associated with dilatation of calyces and a small calculus of 5mm at right renal pelvis (Fig. 1). A conventional abdominal radiograph confirmed the presence of a staghorn calculus at left renal pelvis and a round calculus at right renal pelvis (Fig. 2). Serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, parathyroid hormone levels and urinary calcium, oxalate, uric acid and aminoacids were normal. Chemical analysis of stone passed in the urine after ESWL revealed magnesium and calcium phosphate (struvite).

 

Figure 1

Staghorn calculus at left renal pelvis

 

Figure 2

Abdominal X-ray. Staghorn calculus at left renal pelvis and a round calculus at right renal pelvis.

 

After urine sterilisation, ESWL was performed, using the Dornier Lithotripter S II, during separate sessions on the left (five sessions, power between 1000 -1600 shock waves, 16 -25J) and right (one session, power 700 shock waves, 11J) with progressive fragmentation of the staghorn calculus (Fig. 3). In each session, the child was sedated to minimize patient movements (pain, respiration). Due to the higher power normally used (2000-4000 shock waves) in the standard equipment, we made some changes to minimise the impulse rate (bringing bags of water).

 

Figure 3

Progressive fragmentation of the calculus after ESWL sessions.

 

Following her last ESWL treatment, the child is free of nephrolithiasis, as shown by renal ultrasonography and conventional abdominal radiography performed at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months (Fig. 4). DMSA renal scan performed at 24 months after her last ESWL treatment was normal.

 

Figure 4

Following last ESWL treatment, the child is free of nephrolithiasis, as shown by X-ray.

 

DISCUSSION

Although urolithiasis is rare in developed countries, association with UTI caused by urea –splitting bacteria is relatively common, but staghorn calculi have rarely been reported in this age group.

The aetiology of urolithiasis associated with UTI in infants is related to the presence of ureaseproducing bacteria, including Proteus (most common), Klebsiella and Pseudomonas , as reported in our case. The presence of urea-splitting bacteria leads to the hydrolysis of urea into ammonium and hydroxyl ions, and, consequently, alkalinisation of urine, which can lead to the precipitation of magnesium and calcium phosphate. The diagnosis of lithiasis should be carefully considered in all children with Proteus UTI^7-9.

Struvitecalculi are frequently associated with urologic and bolic abnormalities, such as VUR and hypercalciuria 9 l. In the reported case, VUR grade II at the right was confirmed by VCUG, but the staghorn calculus was present in left renal pelvis. Due to the patient’s young age and the extent of lithiasis, it was necessary to exclude any possible underlying bolic disease.

The treatment of staghorn calculi consists of the removal of the stone, but this procedure is more technically demanding in infants than older children or adults due to the size of the kidneys, an increased chance of renal artery thrombosis secondary to aggressive renal mobilisation and more difficult percutaneous access with standard equipment^10,11. Therefore, more than one treatment may be required to eradicate a large renal stone in an infant 6 l. Data from current literature defined ESWL monotherapy as an efficient and safe modality for the treatment of staghorn calculi in children, with a low percentage of complications and subsequent surgical retreatments^6,12-15. In the casereported, although the use of ESWL is controversial due to the risk of fragmentation and obstruction of urinary tract, it was performed with good outcome. Other acute complications of ESWL are UTI and renal haematoma. In this case, urine sterilization was performed before ESWL and renal ultrasonography was performed after each session. Clinical studies in paediatric patients treated with ESWL have not consistently identified serious long-term consequences of ESW^15,16. In the reported case, DMSA renal scan performed at 24 months after her last ESWL treatment was normal.

In conclusion, with this report, we emphasise the need to consider struvite calculi in all children with lProteus lUTI. ESWL is an efficient and safe treatment of young children (<2 years) with urolithiasis and should be considered as the first option.

 

References

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Correspondence to:

António V. Silva

Department of Paediatrics, CHGE

Rua Doutor Francisco Sá Carneiro

4400-129 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

E.mail: vinhasdasilva@gmail.com

 

Conflict of interest statement. None declared.

 

Received for publication: 22/09/2011

Accepted in revised form: 27/01/2012