Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy versus ureteroscopy for distal ureteral calculi: a prospective randomized study.
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.
Peschel
R
R
Department of Urology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Janetschek
G
G
Bartsch
G
G
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*