title: Shock wave lithotripsy outcomes for lower pole and non-lower pole stones from a university teaching hospital: Parallel group comparison during the same time period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) is a treatment option for all locations of renal and ureteric stones. We compared the results of SWL for lower pole renal stones with all other non-lower pole renal and ureteric stones during the same time period.
  
  
  METHODS
  All SWL procedures were carried out as day case procedures by a mobile lithotripter from January 2012 to August 2013. The follow-up imaging was a combination of KUB X-ray or USS. Following SWL treatment, the stone free rate (SFR) was defined as ≤3 mm fragments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 148 patients with a mean age of 62 years underwent 201 procedures. Of the 201 procedures, 93 (46%) were for lower pole stones. The non-lower pole stones included upper pole (n = 36), mid pole (n = 40), renal pelvis (n = 10), PUJ (n = 8), mid ureter (n = 3), upper ureter (n = 5) and a combination of upper, middle and/or lower pole (n = 6). The mean stone size for lower pole stones (7.4 mm; range: 4-16 mm) was slightly smaller than non-lower pole stones (8 mm; range: 4-17 mm). The stone fragmentation was successful in 124 (62%) of patients. However, the SFR was statistically significantly better (P = 0.023) for non-lower pole stones 43 (40%) compared to lower pole stones 23 (25%). There were 9 (4%) minor complications and this was not significantly different in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although SWL achieves a moderately high stone fragmentation rate with a low complication rate, the SFR is variable depending on the location of stone and the definition of SFR, with lower pole stones fairing significantly worse than stones in all other locations.
authors: Medical Student, University Hospital of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Geraghty
authors: Medical Student, University Hospital of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: Burr
authors: Specialist Nurse in Urology, University Hospital of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Simmonds
authors: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors: Bhaskar K
authors: BK
authors: Somani
keywords: Lithotripsy; lower pole stone; outcome; stone free rate; urolithiasis
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