title: Percutaneous removal of upper urinary tract calculi: experience with ultrasonic lithotripsy.
abstract: From October 1983 to March 1985, the authors removed upper urinary tract calculi percutaneously in 102 patients. In 89 patients, stones required disruption with an ultrasonic lithotriptor before removal. Fifty-two patients had a stone in the renal pelvis and 20 had calyceal stones only; 21 had stones at both sites and 9 had a stone in the upper ureter. Complete removal of all stone material was achieved in 67 of 68 patients with a solitary calculus, in 13 of 26 with multiple calculi and in 6 of 8 with ureteric calculi. Complications were minimal; three patients had pulmonary edema postoperatively as a result of excessive absorption of irrigating fluid, and one patient sustained a perforation of the descending colon. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.8 days and patients were able to return to work a few days after their discharge from hospital. Percutaneous stone removal is a safe and effective procedure and is the surgical procedure of choice for the removal of upper urinary tract calculi.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000628:therapy*