title: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for kidney stones. An alternative to surgery?
abstract: Four years of experience with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for renal and ureteral calculi is summarized. Ninety-nine percent of treated patients had a satisfactory clinical result; 90% of them were stone-free. No significant complications were encountered. We conclude that 85% of all patients with stones can be cured by nonsurgical means. Surgical and other therapeutic modalities will still have a place in the future, but an experienced urologic surgeon can best decide which of the available therapies is best suited for an individual patient.
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D004231:Diuresis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011292:Premedication; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000628:therapy