title: Salvage extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy after failed distal ureteroscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When intervention is necessary, controversy remains as to the best treatment modality for stones of the distal ureter. In general, ureteroscopy is favored over extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) as the treatment of choice for distal ureteral stones. Although uncommon, ureteroscopy failures have traditionally necessitated repeat ureteroscopy to retrieve retained stone fragments. We evaluated the efficacy of salvage SWL for failed primary distal ureteroscopy in the community setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 1989 to December 2000, 6099 patients underwent SWL with the Dornier HM4 lithotripter at our institution. We retrospectively identified 31 patients who had undergone the SWL after a failed distal ureteroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average stone size in these patients was 9.4 mm, the average time interval from ureteroscopy to SWL was 17.2 days, and the average number of shockwaves delivered was 2386. All patients had had stents placed after ureteroscopy. Twenty-seven patients (87%) had resolution of their stone burden after one SWL session. The remaining four patients underwent additional procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ureteroscopy is an effective modality for the treatment of distal ureteral stones. However, when unsuccessful, a salvage procedure may be necessary. Extracorporeal lithotripsy is a less invasive procedure with comparable success rates in the distal ureter. This report suggests that salvage SWL is an appropriate option for patients in whom distal ureteroscopic stone extraction fails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, USA.
authors.forename: Shahrad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aynehchi
authors.forename: Albert A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Samadi
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Sensuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tazaki
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eshghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000209:etiology; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D018666:Ureteroscopy