Renocolic Fistula after Extracorporeal Lithotripsy

Renocolic Fistula after Extracorporeal Lithotripsy: Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare Complication of a Common Procedure

A B S T R A C T

Extracorporeal lithotripsy (ESWL) is one of the most common urological procedures. Among its possible complications, renal parenchymal lesions are rare (approximately 7%). This is a case report of a renocolic fistula after ESWL. It is a very rare complication and without descriptions in the literature of association with ESWL. Because it is a rare lesion, there is no standardized treatment or data that makes it possible to determine the best conduct. The present case required a surgical approach to correct the fistula. It was possible to preserve the affected kidney, which is even rarer in the medical literature.

Keywords

Renocolic fistula, lithotripsy, complication

Introduction

Currently, extracorporeal lithotripsy (ESWL) is one of the most common urological procedures [1, 2]. As with any procedure, complications can arise. We highlight the inadequate breakdown of renal lithiasis, damage to vessels or the renal parenchyma, increased glomerular filtration rate and increased blood pressure [3]. Renal parenchymal lesions can occur in up to 7% of cases, whose manifestations range from subclinical conditions to renal and perinephric hematomas [2, 4]. Despite being relatively uncommon, hematomas present chances of infection and development of blood collection [2, 5]. In the present case, we report the case of a patient who had a serious consequence directly resulting from ESWL, with the development of an abscess and associated nephrocolic fistula.

Case Presentation

Female patient, 43-year-old, referred to the Emergency Surgery Service of the Regional University Hospital of Campos Gerais (HURCG) of the State University of Ponta Grossa, in the city of Ponta Grossa, Brazil. Initially, she had been treated at a smaller hospital in another city and was referred on suspicion of cholecystitis. Upon admission to the HURCG, she was referring severe pain in the right hypochondrium and right flank, without irradiation or associated fever. The patient also had undergone extracorporeal lithotripsy (ESWL) at another hospital 10 days before due to lithiasis of the right renal pelvis. Admission exams at HURCG showed preserved renal function and absence of elevated liver or canalicular enzymes.

Abdominal computed tomography (CT scan) was performed, which demonstrated an extensive right renal subcapsular heterogeneous collection measuring 140×107×109 mm with blood foci and intermingled gases. The imaging exam also showed renal calculi on the right kidney and a collection involving the anterior and the posterior pararenal spaces, which was compressing segments V and VI of the liver (Figure 1).

The Urology team was called upon with the diagnosis of infected renal and perinephric hematoma, being that a complication of the recent ESWL. Considering that renal function was preserved, and effective diuresis was present, the Urology team opted for conservative treatment.

The patient presented a stable evolution. However, after seven days of parenteral antibiotic therapy, sudden episodes of intestinal bleeding happened with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). A new CT scan was performed (Figure 2), which found complicated pyelonephritis on the right kidney, an increase in the extent of the previous locoregional inflammatory process, the appearance of a contiguity liver abscess and signs of fistulization in the right colon.

Figure 1: Computed tomography in the arterial phase. There is a large amount of renal fluid, with deformity of its anatomical boundaries. In addition, air surrounding the collection, suggesting associated anaerobic infection. Presence of hepatic compression, generating alterations in lobes V and VI.
Figure 2: CT scan showing an increase in the collection, associated with the presence of a fistula for the hepatic flexure of the right colon.

The Emergency Surgery Service took over the case and the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy, which inventory of the cavity showed: i) massive blockage of the omentum and intestinal loops over the hepatic flexure; ii) open Gerota's fascia; iii) right subphrenic abscess; iv) right perirenal and subhepatic collections; v) good looking right kidney wrapped in clots; vi) nephrocolic fistula to the hepatic flexure of the colon and proximal transverse colon; vii) communication of the perirenal and subhepatic collections to the proximal transverse colon.

The surgical procedure resulted in an extended right ileocolectomy, latero-lateral transverse ileocolic anastomosis, evacuation of perirenal clots and preservation of the right kidney. Drainage of the cavity was also associated, placing a tubulolaminar drain in the right subphrenic space, a laminar drain in the subhepatic region, a suction drain in the right renal store and a laminar drain in the right paietocolic gutter.

On the following day, the patient was submitted to a double J catheter insertion procedure by urology team. The patient had a good postoperative evolution and was discharged on the 9th postoperative day. The patient underwent outpatient consultations for clinical reassessments. On the 59th postoperative day, he returned to the hospital emergency room with abdominal pain and fever. It was decided to perform a new CT scan (Figure 3), which showed a reduction in the renal subcapsule collection, however, with formation of a collection in the mesentery in the mesogastrium topography.

Figure 3: CT scan showing persistence of signs of complicated pyelonephritis on the right; reduction of the renal subcapsular collection on the right and of the subhepatic collection; collection organization amidst the mesentery on the right flank/right iliac fossa measuring approximately 48×48×46 mm.

As this new collection was surrounded by intestinal loops, tomography-guided or ultrasound-guided puncture was ruled out. The Emergency Surgery Team then performed a new laparotomy and drainage of the collection. The patient had a good postoperative evolution and was discharged after one week of hospitalization.

The patient resumed outpatient follow-ups with both the urology team and the emergency surgery team, both with no reported intercurrences and with good evolution described. Scintigraphy demonstrated renal viability. The patient underwent two more exchanges of the double J catheter. The catheter was removed and the patient was discharged with preservation of the kidney.

Discussion

The first case of renocolic fistula was described by Hippocrates in 460 BC These fistulas rarely are found in clinical practice, and renocolic fistulas are the most common among reno-alimentary fistulas [6]. Due to its rarity, there are few studies with a significant sample of patients. Bissada et al. compiled 59 fistulas in 96 patients with reno-digestive fistulas [7]. The incidence of fistulas was much higher a few years ago, especially when untreated pyelonephritis and tuberculosis were the main etiologies [8, 9]. Currently, the most common causes of fistulas of this magnitude are iatrogenic injuries, firearm injuries, radiofrequency injuries, and radioablation of renal tumors.

In our literature review, we did not find any reports of fistulization as a complication of ESWL. In 2001, Touiti et al. described an alimentary fistula after a surgical procedure [8]. In 1993, Melvin et al. described a gunshot renocolic fistula [10]. Similar cases were reported by Herbert et al. and by Abdalizz et al., who included in their study two distinct episodes of renocolic fistula caused by firearms [6, 11].

Regarding the development of these lesions after treatment of renal carcinomatosis, the literature is more comprehensive. Douglas et al. described a case of fistula after 10 months of treatment for a renal mass by radiofrequency ablation [12]. Wysock et al. reported the condition of a 76-year-old patient with the development of a fistula after cryoablation of a 4.5 cm renal tumor [13]. Medina et al. wrote about a patient who developed a fistula as a consequence of radiofrequency treatment of a renal cell tumor [14].

Lee et al. described a case of renocolic fistula resulting from a stent long-term ureteral stent [15]. Iwamoto and collaborators, on another hand, presented a case of fistula involving the ureter, retroperitoneal abscess and descending colon due to urinary calculus [5].

In renocolic fistula gastrointestinal symptoms are the most common, especially diarrhea, nausea and vomiting [6]. The presence of intestinal bleeding has also been described as the main part of the clinical presentation of fistula, as demonstrated by Wysock et al. [13]. The diagnosis can be made through barium enema, retrograde cystourethrography, fistulogram or CT [8]. In our case, CT was of paramount importance, as in multiple other studies found in the literature [8, 13, 14].

It is possible to try conservative treatment, reserving nephrectomy for cases of previous kidney injury or severe kidney injury at the time of fistula [6, 10, 13]. The surgical approach can be either laparoscopic or laparotomy, with no references comparing the two approaches [16]. Despite this description in the literature, the vast majority of studies address the condition with associated nephrectomy and partial colectomy [6, 13, 14]. In our case, it was possible to preserve the kidney, probably because the surgical approach was performed in a timely manner. No studies were found that demonstrate possible complications of choosing a more expectant renal approach in relation to fistulas, even though this treatment can be recommended in extremely selected situations.

Conclusion

Reno-alimentary fistulas, despite being rare conditions, are increasingly frequent, especially due to the increase in urological and oncological procedures related to the kidney. Our case report presents an extremely rare complication of ESWL, an extremely common urological procedure nowadays. Furthermore, our conduct of renal preservation, pointed out in other studies as infrequent, was an opportunity to assess the possible real consequences of such a procedure [6].

Conflicts of Interest

None.

Ethical Approval

This case report complies with institutional/national standards. The case report has been approved by the institutional scientific committee for both ethical and methodological issues.

Funding

None.

Download PDF View PDF


Article Info

Article Type
Case Report and Review of the Literature

Publication history

Received:

Accepted:

Published:


Copyright

© 2023 Evandro A. Sbalcheiro Mariot. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Hosting by Science Repository.

DOI: 10.31487/j.SCR.2022.12.01


Author Info

Evandro A. Sbalcheiro Mariot

Camila Gabriella da Costa Belonci

Diogo Francesco Castoldi

Eduardo Antunes Martins

Mariana Emanuela Borges

Diego Valerio Bueno

Paulo Henrique Nocete


Corresponding Author
Evandro A. Sbalcheiro Mariot
Emergency Surgery Service of the Regional University Hospital of Campos Gerais, State University of Ponta Grossa, Brazil
Figure 1: Computed tomography in the arterial phase. There is a large amount of renal fluid, with deformity of its anatomical boundaries. In addition, air surrounding the collection, suggesting associated anaerobic infection. Presence of hepatic compression, generating alterations in lobes V and VI.
Figure 2: CT scan showing an increase in the collection, associated with the presence of a fistula for the hepatic flexure of the right colon.
Figure 3: CT scan showing persistence of signs of complicated pyelonephritis on the right; reduction of the renal subcapsular collection on the right and of the subhepatic collection; collection organization amidst the mesentery on the right flank/right iliac fossa measuring approximately 48×48×46 mm.

1.     Kroczak T, Scotland KB, Chew B, Pace KT (2017) Shockwave lithotripsy: techniques for improving outcomes. World J Urol 35: 1341-1346. [Crossref]

2.     Telegrafo M, Carluccio DA, Rella L, Ianora AAS, Angelelli G et al. (2016) Diagnostic and prognostic role of computed tomography in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy complications. Urol Ann 8: 168-172. [Crossref]

3.     Jing S, Liu B, Lan W, Zhao X, Bao J et al. (2018) Modified Mechanical Percussion for Upper Urinary Tract Stone Fragments After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Urology 116: 47-54. [Crossref]

4.     Akbulut F, Kucuktopcu O, Ucpinar B, Savun M, Ozgor F et al. (2015) A Rare Complication of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy: Intrarenal Hematoma Mimicking Pelvis Renalis Tumor. Case Rep Urol 2015: 719618. [Crossref]

5.     Iwamoto Y, Kato M (2014) A case with fistula formation between a perinephric retroperitoneal abscess, a ureter and a descending colon: Successful outcome after conservative management. Can Urol Assoc J 8: E644-E646. [Crossref]

6.     Abdelaziz H, Adourrouj I, Elabiad Y, Janane A, Ghadouane M et al. (2014) Management of renocolic fistula following abdominal trauma from a gunshot: Two cases reports. Can Urol Assoc 8: E207-E209. [Crossref]

7.     Bissada NK, Cole AT, Fried FA (1973) Reno alimentary fistula: An unusual urological problem. J Urol 110: 273-276. [Crossref]

8.     Touiti D, Ameur A, Zrara I, Beddouch A, Oukheira H et al. (2001) Les fistules pyélocoliques : à propos d'une observation. Ann Urol (Paris) 35: 44-46. [Crossref]

9.     Lin IC, Wen YG, Lai YJ, Yang YW (2008) Perirenocolonic Fistula Caused by Perirenal Abscess Secondary to Perirenal Hematoma: Case Report. J Intern Med Taiwan 19: 441-445.

10.  Melvin WS, Burak WE, Flowers JL, Gann DS (1993) Reno-colic fistula following primary repair of the colon: case report. J Trauma 35: 956-957. [Crossref]

11.  Herbert FB, Goodacre B, Neal Jr DE (2001) Successful conservative management of nephrocolic fistula. J Endourol 15: 281-283. [Crossref]

12.  Douglas S (2012) Delayed renocolic fistula formation following percutaneous radiofreqency ablation of renal mass: case report and review of the published cases. Br J Urol Int 20: 1-6.

13.  Wysocki JD, Joshi V, Eiser JW, Gil N (2010) Colo-renal fistula: An unusual cause of hematochezia. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 1: 106-108. [Crossref]

14.  Medina JS, González ER, Atance JMH, Martínez LC, González LL et al. (2010) Renocolic fistula as a complication of radiofrequency in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Arch Esp Urol 63: 74-77. [Crossref]

15.  Lee SW, Kim JH (2009) Renocolic fistula secondary to a perinephric abscess: a late complication of a forgotten double J stent. J Korean Med Sci 24: 960-962. [Crossref]

16. Bachelier MN, Carteron M, Gazaigne J, Mornet M, Mozziconacci JG et al. (2004) Fistule rénocolique compliquant une pyélonéphrite xanthogranulomateuse (un cas traité par laparoscopie). Prog Urol 14: 67-69. [Crossref]