This study investigated whether early intervention based on leukocyte count (WBC) of less than 2.85 × 109/L obtained within 2 h post-operatively may ameliorate the uroseptic shock induced by upper urinary tract endoscopic lithotripsy (UUTEL). Urosepsis was induced in 30 rabbits and assigned to three groups: Control-I, WBC-I, and Shock-I. Control-I: Non-intervention control. WBC-I: Immediate resuscitation when there was a drastic drop of WBC within 2 h post-operatively but without signs or symptoms of shock. Shock-I: Resuscitation only when there were signs or symptoms of shock. In total, 107 patients whose WBC were less than 2.85 × 109/L within 2 h after UUTEL were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were assigned into two groups based on the time of the intervention. Shock-II included 59 patients who were started on the resuscitation bundle when there were signs or symptoms of shock. WBC-II included 48 patients who were started immediately on the resuscitation bundle when the WBC decreased drastically. All Control-I rabbits developed shock within 72 h and died. None of the WBC-I rabbits developed shock and all survived for 72 h. In total, 60% of Shock-I died within 72 h. Overall, 43 patients in Shock-II and six patients in WBC-II experienced uroseptic shock. The average lengths of hospitalization for Shock-II and WBC-II were 17.8 ± 9.7 days and 7 ± 4.2 days, respectively. Six patients in the Shock-II and none in WBC-II died of the uroseptic shock. Early intervention based on WBC measured within 2 h post-operatively might avert the uroseptic shock induced by UUTEL.
Keywords: endoscopic lithotripsy; initial intervention; leukocyte count; uroseptic shock.