Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for lower pole calculi: Our experience

• Published in: International journal of urology 1999-07, Vol.6 (7), p.337-340
• Main Authors: Deliveliotis, Charalambos, Skolarikos, Andreas, Louras, Georgios, Kostakopoulos, Athanasios, Karagiotis, Evangelos, Tekerlekis, Panagiotis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Kidney Calculi - diagnosis; Kidney Calculi - therapy; Lithotripsy; lower pole calculi; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Ureteroscopy; Urography
• ISSN: 0919-8172; 1442-2042
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-2042.1999.00072.x

Introduction: This study was performed in order to evaluate the immediate and long‐term outcome of patients undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for isolated lower pole calculi. Methods: Three hundred and seventy renal units of 350 patients (240 men and 110 women; mean age 55 years) with isolated lower pole renal stones of smaller than 2 cm2 were studied. Follow up ranged from 1 to 52 months (mean, 15 months) to time of censorship, significant period of secondary urologic evaluation. Results: Out of 370 renal units in 350 patients, 212 (57,29%) were stone‐free 1 month after ESWL and 21 (5.67%) spontaneously became stone‐free within another 1–52 months (mean, 15 months). Intervention was required after 1–52 months (mean, 17.5 months) and accomplished by ESWL alone (30/350 patients 8.57%) or combined with retrograde endoscopy (10/350 patients 2.85%) while retrograde manipulation was necessary in two of the 350 patients (0.57%). Conclusion: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the initial treatment of choice in patients with lower pole stones < 2 cm2, because the overall stone‐free rate is acceptable and because even in the residual calculi, the risk of suffering symptomatic episodes requiring secondary intervention is low.