No.______

 dated July 15, 2011

Since 1997 the Urology Department has been using the Urolit contact nanopulse lithotripsy system, manufactured by MedLine (Tomsk), for treatment of patients with urolithiasis.
During this period, stones were destroyed in 720 patients. Ureteral calculi, mainly in the lower region, accounted for 91% of cases; other cases included bladder stones (8%) and renal pelvis calculi (1%). Fragmentation of renal and bladder stones was performed as a routine procedure; acute patients accounted for 99% of the cases of ureteral lithotripsy.
The manipulation was performed under intravenous or spinal anaesthesia. Stone exposure was accomplished using single discharges; multiple discharges were used only for bladder stones. An identical operation mode was set for each stone localization: energy of 6-8, frequency of 4-5 Hz. The average range of pulses was from 5 to 20 discharges. Calculi destruction took place from the inside, through explosive fragmentation. Stones were successfully fragmented in all patients. Oxalate calculi were fragmented with the most difficulty and required a greater number of pulses.
There were not any failures of the unit during the period of operation. The unit is easy to operate and maintain. The average consumption rate of probes was 1 probe per 7 patients with ureteral calculi and 1 probe per 3 patients with bladder stones.
The advantages of the unit include noiseless operation; absence of kinetic energy, which significantly reduces risk of stone migration to the kidney; low traumatizing effects (the organ is not perforated in the event of accidental exposure to the mucosa); destruction of a stone to small fragments.