Treatment of lower ureteric stones by ESWL and ICPL: a comparative study.

This study was carried-out to find-out better and effective treatment option for Lower Ureteric Stones (LUS) by comparing Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) with ureterorenoscopic (URS) Intracorporeal Pneumatic Lithotripsy (ICPL). A total of 60 patients attending the outpatient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with lower ureteric stones were divided into two groups, 30 in group-I (URS + ICPL) and the remaining 30 in group-II (ESWL). In group-I, 60% were male with mean age of 32.76 years and in group-II, 40% were male with mean age of 36.23 years. The ratio of involvement of right to left ureter was 1.7:1. The mean stone size was 10.7 + 2.69 mm (SD) in group-I and 9.9 + 1.97 mm (SD) in group-II. The differences in age, sex and side of involvement of ureter were not significant (p > 0.05) between the two groups. Among the groups 24 (80%) in group-I and 26 (86.61%) of patients in group-II were found stone free. The post procedure loin pain, fever and haematuria were more common in group-I than in group-II. The LUTS and loin pain were significantly more in group-I than in group-II (p < 0.05). The post procedure fever was significantly more in group-I than in group-II (p < 0.001). The mean post procedure hospital stay was 5.7 + 2.54 days for group-I and 1.57 + 0.531 days for group-II. Post procedure hospital stay was significantly less in group-II than in group-I (p < 0.05). The post procedure follow up attendance in this study was significantly low in group-I than in group-II (p < 0.05). ESWL was found effective method than URS + ICPL for the treatment of lower ureteric stones.