Management of ureteral stones in pediatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
We report our 5-year experience in the management of ureteral stones in pediatric patients using shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in combination with ureteroscopy.


METHODS
A total of 25 children (age range 12 months-14 years; mean 8.7 years) underwent SWL for ureteral lithiasis. Stones were located in the upper ureter in 6 children (24%), the middle ureter in 8 (32%), and the lower ureter in 11 (44%). Their size ranged from 5 to 14 mm (mean 10.9 mm). The children who failed SWL underwent ureteroscopic treatment.


RESULTS
In the SWL-only group, the overall stone clearance rate at 3 months was 84% (21 of 25 children). Four children (16%) who failed SWL underwent successful ureteroscopic treatment. Complications were infrequent and generally minor in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Shockwave lithotripsy is a safe and efficient treatment modality for ureteral stones in pediatric patients. In expert hands, ureteroscopy can be successfully applied in case of SWL failure.
Delakas
D
D
Department of Urology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. delakas@mail.gr
Daskalopoulos
G
G
Metaxari
M
M
Triantafyllou
T
T
Cranidis
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D007223:Infant; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014513:Ureter; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*