Complications of Transurethral Pneumatic Lithotripsy in Children with Bladder Stone Disease
Abstract
Zafar Ahmad Khan and Qudrat Ullah*
Background Pediatric bladder stone disease remains prevalent in developing countries and poses unique management challenges due to anatomical and physiological differences in children. Transurethral pneumatic lithotripsy (TPL) has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery; however, procedure-related complications remain a concern.
Objective To determine the frequency and types of complications associated with transurethral pneumatic lithotripsy in children with bladder stone disease.
Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to January 2025 at two tertiary care centers. Sixty children aged 2–15 years with imaging-confirmed bladder stones underwent TPL. Demographic data, stone characteristics, operative details, and postoperative complications within 30 days were recorded and analyzed descriptively.
Results The mean age was 7.8 ± 3.2 years, with a male predominance (66.7%). Mean stone size was 13.5 ± 4.2 mm. Postoperative complications included hematuria (13.3%), fever (10.0%), acute urinary retention (8.3%), and bladder perforation (3.3%). All complications were managed conservatively, with no reoperations or mortality.
Conclusion Transurethral pneumatic lithotripsy is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for pediatric bladder stones, with a low rate of mostly minor and manageable complications.