ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy and patient satisfaction between shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopic removal of stone (URS) for the treatment of lower ureteral stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 223 patients who were treated for lower ureteral stones from August 2006 to January 2009. SWL and URS were performed in 47 and 176 patients, respectively. After treatment, the patients' subjective inconvenience/pain and their satisfaction with the treatment process were estimated by questionnaire. We analyzed success rates, complication rates, inconvenience/pain scores, and satisfaction scores for each group of patients. RESULTS: The overall success rates of SWL and URS were 82.9% and 97.7%, respectively (p=0.001). The complication rates of SWL and URS were 8.5% and 10.8%, respectively (p=0.162). The satisfaction scores of SWL and URS were 7.4 and 9.2, respectively (p=0.001). Whereas 87.5% of the URS group preferred the same treatment in case of a recurrence of ureteral stones, only 68% of the SWL group preferred the same treatment in the future (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: URS was more successful and satisfactory to the patients with lower ureteral stones. Although both SWL and URS were highly effective for treatment of distal ureteral stones, we believe that URS is the first-line treatment modality for lower ureteral stones.