[Extracorporeal lithotripsy of ureteral calculi using the Dormier HM3 device. A series of 176 calculi].

In a series gathered over 5 years (November 1984 to November 1989), we have treated 356 patients with ureteral lithiasis. Out of these, 170 (134 men and 36 women) were treated with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotrity with a Dornier HM3 system, in situ and as a first intention. The calculi (176 stones) were regularly distributed along the ureter: their location was subpyelic in 44 cases, lumboiliac in 59, upper pelvic in 42 and lower pelvic in 32. The average diameter of the calculi was 10 mm for subpyelic stones and 8 mm for the others. A preliminary urine drainage was required for 24 calculi causing acute obstructive pyelonephritis (32 ureteral drains surrounding the stone, and 2 percutaneous nephrostomies). Radioscopic localization required intravenous pyelography during lithotrity in 52 cases (30%). On radiographs without preparation taken the next day, 170 stones were regarded as fragmented (96%). After some time the 6 patients whose calculus had not been fragmented underwent another treatment (4 ureterotomies and 2 ureteroscopies). Five patients had an additional treatment because of a painful and/or febrile episode (3 drain insertions and 2 ureterotomies) and 2 patients required a second session of lithotrity because fragmentation was not sufficient; 4 patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 153 patients (90%) got rid of their fragments, 146 during the first months and the remaining 7 before the sixth month. No severe complication was noted. Besides the 5 patients who had required additional treatment, 11 patients suffering from pain and/or fever had a medical treatment. These treatments lead us to proposing first-intention "in situ" extracorporeal shock wave lithotrity for all ureteral lithiases requiring a treatment.