Initial clinical experience of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy using the Wolf Piezolith 2300 lithotriptor

Park, Kwang Sung; Min, Byung Kap

Abstract

During 5 months from April to August, 1990, 114 patients with urinary stone were treated without anesthesia by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with the Wolf Piezolith 2300 lithotriptor. Of these 114 patients, 95 comprising 98 renal units with stones followed more than 1 month after ESWL, were evaluated. The results were obtained as follows ; l. The average patient age was 44 years, with a range of 19 to 65 years. The sex ratio was similar, All cases were treated on the out-patient basis. 2. The locations of stones were kidney in 61 cases ( 62.2%) including 8 cases of staghorn calculi and ureter in 37 cases (37.8%). 3. The average sessions of treatment were 2.6 and average treatment time was 31 minutes. 4. Pain from ESWL was tolerable for almost all patients in whom ESWL were performed without anesthetics or analgesics. Only 2 of 95 patients required analgesics. 5.Complete fragmentation (into particles less than 2mm in size) was achieved in 94.9% of the cases, with 75.5% being completely free of stone at 1 month. 6.The auxiliary measurements such as hydration with diuresis, ureteral stenting were needed in 11.2% of cases. Hydration with diuresis was induced in 7 cases for the localization of the ureteral stone. 7. The post-ESWL complications were mild and controlled with conservative management. We conclude that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy monotherapy with Wolf Piezolith 2300 lithotriptor was considered to be effective and safe procedure for the treatment of urinary stones.