Extensive perirenal hemorrhage following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is now commonly used for the treatment of urinary calculi. Subcapsular or perirenal hemorrhage is one of the commonly experienced adverse effects directly attributable to shock wave therapy. We report a case of a 59-year-old man, who showed symptoms of severe flank pain and low values of hemoglobin and hematocrit with gradual development of extensive and expanding hematoma following ESWL. The bleeding necessitated nephrectomy. Pre-existing hypertension of this patient was a significant risk factor in the occurrence of post-ESWL bleeding.