• Energy Research

This study sought to show the effectiveness and safety of three repeated alcohol injections for the treatment of simple large renal cysts.From September 1991 to December 1997 we treated 72 renal cysts. The cyst was drained with an 8F mono J stent. Ninety-five percent sterile ethanol was injected into the cyst and left in place for 20 minutes. Two repeat alcohol injections were performed every 24 hours. After the third alcohol injection, the catheter was removed. To avoid pain in the last 39 patients, 20 mL of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride was injected into the cyst for 15 minutes before the alcohol injections.The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 83 months (mean 48). One patient underwent surgical intervention because of considerable bleeding in the cystic cavity that occurred after percutaneous drainage. In 1 patient in whom the cystic cavity communicated with the urinary tract, no alcohol injections were performed. After the repeated alcohol injections, the cystic cavity completely disappeared in 68 of the 70 treated cysts at first ultrasound examination. This result, observed at the first ultrasound control observation, remained unchanged during follow-up.In our experience, percutaneous drainage with three repeated alcohol injections offers a high rate of success without the cost and morbidity associated with other procedures, such as operation or laparoscopy.

The Authors report their results on the treatment of simple voluminous renal cyst with percutaneous drainage and three times repeated sclerosis with pure alcohol every 24 hours. After a mean follow-up of 28 months They report a 96% of success with only two recurrences. Since the fair results and low invasiveness of the method, the Authors propose the repeated alcoholization in the treatment of simple voluminous renal cysts.

The Authors report their experience on the treatment of simple voluminous renal cysts with an echo-guided puncture followed by a sclerosis, that is repeated thrice, with an endocavitary injection of pure alcohol. Since the fair results (94% of success) that were obtained after a mean follow-up of 16 months, the low invasivity of the method and the benignity of the disease, should propose the method itself as the first approach for the treatment of voluminous but not complicated renal cysts.