[Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the treatment of urolithiasis in children].

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was performed in 1451 children with urolithiasis aged from 7 months to 16 years. A total of 2464 sessions were made. Low-energy impulses in ESWL were effective in 98.8% children with concrements up to 2.0 cm in size and in 98.8% of those with stones larger than 2.0 cm. We believe that main factors of high efficiency of ESWL in children are: more friable structure of stones, small depth of stone location, faster evacuation of the stone fragments. ESWL with low energy impulses is highly effective and is not accompanied with traumatic complications. Renal parenchyma is not affected.