Prevalence of lithotripsy complications in urinary tract stones in patients referring to Taliban hospital

Background: Lithotripsy is an effective and minimally invasive method for the treatment of urinary tract stones, reducing the need for high-risk surgeries. However, its limitations, such as lower efficacy in larger stones, recurrence, infection, bleeding, and residual stones, remain a subject of ongoing discussion. This study aims to assess the prevalence of lithotripsy complications in urinary tract stones in Herat, Afghanistan. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 59 patients with urinary tract stones, aged between 1 and 60 years, over one year from March 21, 2018, to March 20, 2019, in Tabiban Hospital, Herat. Patients diagnosed with urinary tract stones and candidates for lithotripsy were evaluated, with demographic information recorded. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Results: The highest incidence of cases was observed in the third decade of life (38.9%). In terms of gender distribution, 77.96% of the patients were male, and 22.03% were female. Most cases (76%) were from Herat province. The smallest detected stone measured 7 mm, while the largest was 20 mm. The success rate of lithotripsy was 95%. Regarding stone location, the highest incidence was in the right kidney (39%). Among post-lithotripsy complications, bleeding was observed in 20.3% of cases, with blood transfusion required in only 3.38%. Infection occurred in 6.7% of cases, and cutaneous ecchymosis was observed in 6.7%. Conclusion: Overall, lithotripsy is a minimally invasive procedure with fewer complications, lower costs, and, in most cases, no hospitalization, making it a viable treatment option for urinary tract stones.