Abstract
Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) is often marketed as a non-invasive and absolutely safe out-patient treatment, and hence many non-trained medical professionals in India have acquired this technology. Presented here is a patient who developed a life-threatening renal and peri-renal hematoma after receiving 4500 shockwaves for a renal calculus. The treating physician, a non-allopathic doctor, carried out SWL despite the patient’s uncontrolled hypertension and anticoagulant drugs. The large expanding hematoma needed emergency nephrectomy. The patient died in the next 48 h due to persistent bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation. This case brings to light that proper training is needed even for such seemingly “risk-free” treatments. Also, legislations and regulations are needed to monitor sales of such vital equipment to non-qualified professionals.
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