Abstract
Worldwide experience with 257 extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatments in 216 children shows stone-free rates of 50% to 84% with at least 3 months of follow-up. Most stones were between 1 and 2 cm (range 0.2 to 9 cm). The number of shock waves ranged from 268 to 2000, mostly at 18 to 20 kv (range 14 to 24 kv). The smaller diameter of the urinary passages and the more common presence of anatomic abnormalities or complicating disease in pediatric stone patients probably contribute to the lower success rate compared with adults. Nevertheless, there were no significant complications. ESWL is appropriate for upper urinary tract calculi in children.
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