Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in paediatric patients.

24 children with urolithiasis of the upper urinary tract were treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). In all patients sufficient stone disintegration could be achieved by an average of 950 shock waves. Percutaneous nephrostomy was required for "Steinstrasse" ureteral obstruction in 2 cases. At discharge from hospital 16 children were considered stone-free. Follow-up showed 90% of the children to be stone-free without recurrence (mean 20 months). The necessary precautions considered, ESWL is the method of choice for treatment of urolithiasis of the upper urinary tract in children. The long term effects of ESWL on the juvenile kidney have yet to be observed.