Urolithiasis at The Kenyatta National Hospital:Nairobi, January 1978 - December 1987

Abstract

We carried out a retrospective study to establish the epidemiological and clinical picture of urolithiasis and 1ts management at the Kenyatta National Hospital General Surgery Units. 82 patients with 89 episodes were seen and managed for stone disease in 10 years with an annual incidence of 8.9. The sex ratio is 4.5 males: 1 female. The majority of the patients have only one episode of severe stone disease mostly in the bladder. The left and right are equally predisposed. Pain, dysuria, frequency, retention, infection and haematuria are quite comnon, Urinalysis, plain abdominal, x-rays , intravenous urograms and cystoscopy are quite adequate for establishing the diagnosis. Almost all patients are hospitalised for about a month or more and cystolithotomy is the surgical procedure that is most indicated. Only a tenth of our patients are not operated. No associated deaths have been noticed. TWo-thirds of the stones are single and only a tiny proportion of those are staghorn. Calcium and oxalate predominate in the formation of the stones. Pure uric acid stones are hardly seen and cystine is inexistent.