LITHOTRIPSY OF THE BL ADDER STONE

Abstract

For 7 cases of bladder stones, we carried out transurethral lithotripsy by using an ultrasonic lithotripter (UL), an electrohydraulic lithotripter (EHL) or a ballistic lithotripter (BL), and evaluated the safety, usefulness and therapeutic indication for each lithotripter.With the UL, though the power was weakest, there was little stone movement at irradiation and the view was good owing to continuous irrigation, and there was no mucosal injury due to misdirected irradiation. With the EHL, though the power was strongest, stone movement at irradiation was greatest, and mucosal injury occurred due to misdirected irradiation, and the probe was exhausted rapidly. BL was similar to EHL, but BL is more useful than EHL when safety and running cost are considered.From our consideration, small stones less than 2 cm can be treated by UL only. In case of larger stones, we recommend that the stone be divided into small pieces by BL at first and that the small fragments be disintegrated by UL.