Elective treatment of ureteral stones with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was used as an elective treatment in 128 ureteral stones. Of the 108 with adequate follow-up, 88% were successfully disintegrated. Ureteral catheters proved to be particularly useful for more precise stone localization and as a mechanical means to push the calculi inside the renal cavities or to create a fluid interface around them, in order to increase the efficiency of the shock waves. When ureteral catheters were used a success rate of 95.5% was observed, as opposed to 82.8% when stents were not used (p less than 0.05).
Carini
M
M
Department of Urology, University of Florence, Italy.
Selli
C
C
Fiorelli
C
C
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D011859:Radiography; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*