Neurophysiological aspects of electrical pulse stimulation in patients with urolithiasis

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2022 Dec 22;50(300):348-351.

Abstract

Stimulation of the peristaltic activity of the ureter is a pathogenetically substantiated component of the lithokinetic effect.

Aim: The aim of the work was to study the effects of electrical impulse stimulation on ureteral motility in patients with urolithiasis.

Materials and methods: 47 patients with urolithiasis, aged 27-59 years, with unilateral ureteral stones, up to 5 mm in size, were studied. The patients underwent translumbar electrical impulse stimulation according to the original method. The results were assessed by the change in the frequency of ureteral emissions and the duration of the interval between two consecutive ureteral emissions.

Results: As a result of the method used, there is an increase in the average frequency of ureteral ejections from 1.38±0.49 to 2.20±0.84 minutes (p<0.05), a decrease in the average duration of the interval between two consecutive ureteral ejections from 44.48 ±7 .89 to 27.96±3.89 seconds (p<0.05). The impact was well tolerated by patients. There were no changes in hemodynamic parameters.

Conclusions: Transdermal exposure to single electric stimuli of a rectangular shape has significant effect in patients with urolithiasis as electric pulse stimulation helps to increase the peristaltic activity of the ureter by initiating additional peristaltic waves. To achieve this effect, it is advisable to apply range of 15-30 mA at a time moment corresponding to the last third of the interval between ureteral emissions, when applying stimulating electrodes in the lumbar region, in the area of the projection of the renal pelvis and the proximal ureter.

Keywords: peristalsis; translumbar electrical impulse stimulation; ureterolithiasis.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Ureter* / physiology
  • Urolithiasis* / therapy