Results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with a new electrohydraulic shock wave generator.

OBJECTIVE

Since 1999, the lithotriptor LDM (Philips, Germany) is used routinely for treatment of urinary stones in our department. We evaluated the complication rate and treatment success of extracorporeal stone treatment with the new lithotriptor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a prospective, two-step clinical study: (1) Complication rate: From January to May 1999, 312 consecutive treatments in 225 patients (136 male, 89 female) were evaluated. (2) Success rate: From February to April 2000, 88 consecutive patients (61 male, 27 female) with 113 concrements were evaluated.

RESULTS

(1) Complication rate: Overall complication rate was 10%. Most of them were minor complications. Most significant complications were subcapsular renal hematomas, which were detected by routinely performed renal ultrasound in 1%. (2) Success rate: After single treatment, overall success rate was 87%. 15 of 16 in situ treated ureteral stones (94%) were sufficiently disintegrated by a single treatment. Disintegration rates after single treatment were 93.6% for renal stones smaller than 1 cm and 86% for renal stones 1-2 cm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Stone therapy by SWL with the new lithotriptor LDM is a highly effective therapy of renal and ureteral stones and has a low complication rate.