Extracorporeal Electromagnetic Shock Wave Lithotripsy of Ureteric Stones in Situ

Abstract

Between June 1989 and June 1990, 277 patients with ureteric stones were treated by the Siemens Lithostar Plus in situ. In 113 patients, the stones were in the upper third of ureter, in 51 in the midureter, and in another 113 in the lower ureter. After a mean follow-up of 32 weeks, 79% of the patients were stone free. While this figure was 85% for upper ureteric stones, it was 71 % and 76% for mid and lower ureteric stones, respectively. There was complete fragment clearance in 86% of the stones with a diameter of 1 to 10 mm (n = 140), 78% of those 11 to 20 mm (n = 118), and 32% of those larger than 21 mm (n = 19). We believe that, despite the fact that some of the stones in the present series were impacted, such high success rates justify in situ extracorporeal lithotripsy as the initial treatment of ureteric stones.