ESWL monotherapy of renal calculi

ABSTRACT

To study efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy [ESWL] monotherapy for renal calculi. Three hundred patients with renal stones less than 3.5 cm in diameter were selected. All were treated in supine position. Dornier HM4 machine was used for the study. JJ stent was placed in cases with complex and larger than 2.5cm size stones. Pregnant women and patients with pacemaker were excluded from the study. ESWL monotherapy was performed on three hundred patients and three hundred sixteen renal units between Jan. 98 and Dec. 98. Almost 50% of the stones were larger than 2 cm. Post ESWL complications were seen in 49 [16.2%] of the cases. Overall success rate of ESWL was 98.8%. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a preferable treatment option for small and medium sized stones. Prophylactic JJ stenting helped in treating patients from far off areas. Complex renal calculi with low stone bulk could be treated with lithotripsy with JJ stent in situ