A 2-year experience with the Wolf piezoelectric lithotripter: impact of repeat treatment on results and complications.
During a 2-year period, 884 extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy treatments have been performed on stones in 388 renal units (kidney and upper ureter) using a Wolf Piezolith device.* Lithotripsy routinely was performed on an outpatient basis without use of anesthesia or premedication. Often, the maximum number of pulses allowable by a Food and Drug Administration protocol (4,000) was delivered and retreatments frequently occurred on successive days. Of the patients 75% were stone-free 3 months after treatment, while another 20% had only residual small fragments. No intrarenal or perinephric hematomas were observed and only 1 patient has had hypertension requiring medication. Renal colic from passage of stone fragments occurred in only 10% of the patients. An aggressive treatment policy using repeat treatments as necessary provides for superior results with this device without an incision or complication.
Cope
R M
RM
Department of Surgery, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
Middleton
R G
RG
Smith
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003085:Colic / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006417:Hematuria / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000628:therapy*; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology