Management of Symptomatic Urolithiasis During Pregnancy

Urinary calculi during pregnancy present not only a diagnostic challenge but also a management dilemma. In this retrospective study, we describe our experience with diagnosis and management of symptomatic urolithiasis in pregnant women. A total of 18 pregnant women were treated for urolithiasis at the Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, between 1999 and 2004. The incidence of symptomatic urolithiasis during pregnancy was 0.35%. Of the 20 stones found, nine were on the right side and 11 were on the left, and two patients had bilateral urinary stones. Most urolithiasis cases during pregnancy (55.5%) occurred in the third trimester. Flank pain (94.4%) was the most common clinical presentation. Conservative management was successful in 10 patients until the end of pregnancy and then definite treatment was performed. In four patients, a double-J stent was inserted successfully for persistent pain. In three cases with persistent pain, failure of double-J stent placement was treated with ureteroscopic lithotripsy under epidural anesthesia. One patient received percutaneous nephrostomy for persistent renal colic and pyonephrosis. Ultrasonographic evaluation of pregnant women with suspected renal colic is a reasonable diagnostic procedure. Ureteroscopy is another choice when conservative treatment fails.