Clinical Experience of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy with EDAP LT-02 in Urinary Calculi

Kang, Dong Il; Min, Kweon Sik; Choi, Sung Hyup

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of the EDAP LT-02 (LT-02) lithotriptor in the treatment of urinary stones.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We analysed 2,176 cases with urinary calculi, primarily treated by LT-02, between January 1995 and December 2001. There were 591 cases with renal, and 1,585 with ureteral, calculi. The distribution of stones, success rate in relation to the location and size of stones, comparisons of success rate in relation to radio-opacity, causes of failure and complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), were reviewed. Renal and upper ureteral calculi were treated with the patients in the supine position, and mid and lower ureteral calculi were treated with the patients in the prone position.
RESULTS
The success rates (stone free or residual fragments with a diameter <4mm) in relation to the stone location, size and radio-opacity were as follows: 1. The success rates of the renal and ureteral stones were 90.9 and 98.4%, respectively. 2. With renal stones, the success rates were 96.4, 92.2, 74.5, 73.5 and 28.6% for stone sizes of less than 10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 and above 41mm, respectively (p<0.001). With ureteral stones, the success rates were 100, 98.4, 83.3 and 0% for stone sizes of less than 10, 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40mm, respectively (p<0.001) 3. In relation to the radio-opacities, for the renal and ureteral stones, there were no significantly differences in the success rates. The retreatment rate for stones was 64.1% and that for auxiliary treatment was 2.4%. Thus, the efficiency quotient was 43.5% with SWL using LT-02.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that SWL using LT-02 is a safe and effective method, which should be considered as an acceptable option for the primary management of urinary calculi in selected patients.