Summary
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of using focused ultrasound to move or expel small kidney stones in a live porcine (pig) model. The researchers used calcium oxalate monohydrate kidney stones and laboratory model stones and implanted them in the renal pelvicalyceal system of pigs. They performed transcutaneous ultrasonic propulsion using diagnostic ultrasound equipment. Successful stone relocation was defined as moving the stones to different parts of the urinary tract.
The study found that all the stones observed moved during treatment, and 65% of them were successfully relocated. The average procedure time was relatively short, and no significant kidney injury was observed in the treated animals. The results suggest that noninvasive transcutaneous ultrasonic propulsion is a safe, effective, and efficient method for moving kidney stones to different locations in the urinary tract, potentially offering a useful option for managing kidney stones alongside surgical approaches.
