Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of lower caliceal stone

Ahn, Hyun Soo; Yang, Seung Chul

Abstract

We review 66 patients with lower caliceal stones treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotipsy. One of the major problems involved with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the high rate of residual stone fragments in the lower calices. We observed the influence of the presence of lower caliceal dilatation, hydronephrosis, and the size of alone on the passage of stone. Thirty-nine of the 66 patients with a lower caliceal stone and no stone fragments. The success rate was only 59 per cent. The stone was completely fragmented in 59 of 66 (89%) patients. Thirty-nine of 59 patients who had completely fragmented stones. had no residual fragments. The patients who had no lower caliceal dilatation and a relativgly small size stone (less than 1.5 x 1.0 cm). such as in group 4. had a high success rate of 70%. The patients with a large stone or the presence of caliceal dilatation. were expected to low success rate, therefore there was a need for repeated treatment with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and combined treatment with percutaneous nephrostomy.