Kidney stones are a disease of civilisation that affects almost 5% of the population in the course of their lives. The annual incidence rate for renal calculi in Germany, currently at almost 1.5%, is on an upward trend and the  condition is frequently associated with significant pain. About 50% of patients experience relapse within a period of 10 years if the stone formation remains untreated. These figures clearly reflect the importance of modern stone management.

Dr med Peter Sprenk, consultant urologist at the Urological Centre and affiliated doctor at Brilon Community Hospital, Franz Haselhorst, urology specialist nurse, Dr med Heinz Grosse-Vollmer, consultant urologist at the Urological Centre and affiliated doctor at Brilon Community Hospital (from left to right)

Localisation by X-ray fluoroscopy and stone positioning in the focus of the shock wave field

Brilon Community Hospital, Germany, in pole position

At the newly established Stone Therapy Centre at Brilon Community Hospital, Germany, there is little that  reminds one of the times of open stone surgery. In fact, a computer-controlled patient table and swivel monitors displaying the kidneys in the patients' bodies dominate the setting. Instead of using a scalpel, shock waves by STORZ MEDICAL are applied extracorporeally which penetrate into the patient's body. These shock waves crush the stone into tiny fragments as small as grains of sand, which then pass spontaneously through the ureter and bladder.

The latest generation urological workstation by STORZ MEDICAL used at Brilon Community Hospital localises the stone with millimetric precision by performing fluoroscopic projections in two directions to zero in on the calculus before computer-controlled stone positioning in the focus of the shock wave field takes place. In many cases, ultrasound localisation may be a useful tool to complement or even replace X-ray fluoroscopy. It enables continuous monitoring and control of the stone fragmentation process without exposure to radiation.

The shock wave source used at Brilon Community Hospital is considered the technologically most advanced source currently available in the market. This elegant technique of shock wave lithotripsy can be employed in the treatment of almost all types of calculi.

Multiple use, uncompromising stone therapy

In cases in which stones cannot be fragmented sufficiently or stone fragments cannot pass spontaneously by the application of shock waves alone, the new urological workstation at Brilon Community Hospital allows all necessary additional measures to be conducted directly with the same system.

While originally several separate systems were necessary for the individual techniques, all treatments can now be conducted on a single multi-functional workstation. This solution not only curbs costs but also saves space that would normally be occupied by a series of different workstations for different applications.

Data storage and network environment

Health care processes in modern hospitals require efficient organisation to ensure that all patient data necessary for the examinations and treatments to be conducted is readily available to doctors.

This is why the urological workstation at Brilon Community Hospital is tied into the hospital's network environment so that all diagnostic information, X-rays and treatment data are centrally stored within the network and are easily retrievable for additional examinations or other applications at any time.

It is with pride that today Brilon Community Hospital can claim to be one of the top institutions for stone therapy worldwide.