Efficacy and treatment outcome of a new electromagnetic lithotripter for upper urinary tract calculi.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and treatment outcome of a new electromagnetic lithotripter-The Siemens Lithoskop-in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones.


METHODS
Data of 218 consecutively treated patients for upper urinary tract stones between August 2006 and December 2007 with complete follow-up was collected from a prospectively maintained data-base. All patients underwent outpatient based extracorporeal SWL with the shock wave system Pulso integrated into the Siemens Lithoskop platform.


RESULTS
Mean surface areas of renal and ureteral stones were 65 +/- 59 mm(2) and 32 +/- 18 mm(2) respectively. Overall, 95% of urinary stones demonstrated fragmentation post SWL. After three months follow-up 84% and 88% of patients harboring renal and ureteral stones were regarded as treatment success. Patients harboring renal or ureteral stones <10 mm were successful treated in 95%. Auxiliary measures in renal and ureteral stones were necessary in 7.8 and 18.8% of patients respectively. Mean number of sessions performed for renal and ureteral stones were 1.6 +/- 1 and 1.4 +/- 0.8, respectively. No major complications as sepsis or renal hematoma were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Outpatient based electromagnetic SWL using the Lithoskop achieves high fragmentation and success rates with minimal analgesia requirements and a low complication rate.
Seitz
Christian
C
Department of Urology, General Hospital Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy. christian.seitz@asbz.it
Martini
Thomas
T
Berner
Lukas
L
Signorello
Diego
D
Galantini
Andrea
A
Pycha
Armin
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007669:Kidney Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*