title: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy versus ureteroscopy for distal ureteral calculi: a prospective randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a prospective randomized study to determine appropriate first line treatment for distal ureteral stones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1996 and October 1997, 80 patients with distal ureteral stones (40 smaller than 5 mm. and 40 larger than 5 mm.) were randomized and treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or ureteroscopy with a 9.5 or 6.5F semirigid ureteroscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ureteroscopy was significantly better in terms of operative time, fluoroscopy time and time to achieve a stone-free state. The smaller the stones, the greater the difference between the 2 treatment modalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For distal ureteral stones we recommend ureteroscopy as first line treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Janetschek
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods*