title: Nonstent or noncatheter extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy for ureteral stones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a ureteral stent or catheter was necessary to achieve satisfactory results with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for a stone in the ureter.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 1,712 single ureteral stones treated in the ureter by ESWL using Dornier HM3 and Medstone STS lithotriptors was performed, 1,425 with a stent and 287 without a stent (in situ). Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test to determine the p value.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stone site, size, and treatment parameters (average shocks, kV, and estimated radiation to the patient) were similar in both groups. The retreatment rate, post-ESWL secondary procedure rate, and stone-free rate were 5 percent, 5 percent, and 79 percent, respectively, with a stent and 6 percent, 9 percent, and 79 percent, respectively, without a stent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of ESWL for single ureteral stones were similar with or without a stent, making the presence of a ureteral stent unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Midwest Urologic Stone Unit, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Cass
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization