Correlation of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate in patients with kidney stones

    Background: At present, although more than 90% of renal stones are treated at a success rate of 68-86% with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy  (ESWL), complications such as the possible occurrence of hypertension are attributed to application of this technique .   Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of ESWL with the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate.   Methods: This analytical study was performed on 75 patients with kidney stones in Mashhad using non-probability and purposeful sampling. Blood pressure was measured at three stages before, during, and after lithotripsy in the supine position . The relationship between ESWL- related hypertension and autonomic neural activity was also evaluated by heart rate spectral analysis . Data was analyzed with t-test and one-way analysis of variance .   Findings: The mean arterial blood pressure increased from 93.30±9.73 to 98.30±12.63 in men and from 87.82±11.08 to 96.08±14.51 mmHg in women during lithotripsy and the difference was found to significant, statistically (P<0.001) . The i ncidence of diastolic pressure ≥ 100 mmHg in patients with diastolic pressure less than 90 mmHg prior to lithotripsy was 7.5%.   Conclusion: These results indicate the risk of hypertension during lithotripsy however, the possible occurrence of hypertension following lithotripsy needs more prospective studies.