Abstract
During a 22-month period, ESWL was used to treat 158 radiolucent and 18 scarcely radiopaque renal and ureteral calculi. Adequate radiological imaging was obtained with retrograde pyelography in 158 cases or by intravenous pyelography in 8 when a ureteral stent could not be passed. Three cases presented complications (two septic states and one perirenal hematoma), and one had rapid recurrence of a cystine stone. Intravenous alkalinization was begun during hospitalization and continued orally after discharge. Of 161 patients with adequate follow-up, 127 (84%) were completely stone-free. Post-treatment particles present a much greater surface area for contact with alkaline urine than does the original stone, accelerating chemical dissolution.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.