How Efficient Is Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy With Modern Lithotripters For Removal Of Ureteral Stones?

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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UroToday.com - Using a Modulith SLX Classic and Modulith SLX-F2 lithotriptor, the author provides data on 580 ureteral stone patients.

The success rate for proximal, middle, and distal ureteral stones with a single treatment was 73%, 67%, and 83% respectively exclusive of an overall auxiliary procedure rate of 18% (which, if one includes the average number of SWL sessions per patient, would reduce the efficiency quotients to 62%, 59% and 70%, respectively). This is still a "fair" cry from past meta-analyses showing efficiency quotients for the initial HM3 of 72%, 67% and 82%.

The questions are two:

1. At what risk percentage is a patient willing to accept treatment "failure" and the need for additional or auxiliary procedures.

2. Why haven't results with shock wave lithotripsy improved in nearly a quarter of a century?

Tiselius HG

J Endourol. 2008 Feb;22(2):249-55
doi:10.1089/end.2007.0225

Reported by UroToday.com Medical Editor Ralph V. Clayman, MD

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