Abstract
Fifty-three patients underwent placement of a ureteral catheter prior to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) of an in situ ureteral stone. Two types of catheter strategies were employed. An indwelling double-J catheter was utilized as a bypass procedure in 19 patients for whom SWL was not immediately available. A single end-hold catheter was placed inferior to the distal aspect of the obstructing calculus in the remaining 34 patients at cystoscopy immediately prior to SWL and utilized for continuous saline irrigation during the course of treatment. Although retrospective review showed no difference in the clinical outcome of the two groups, significantly fewer shocks were delivered to treat the patients in the irrigation group. We recommend that patients presenting with double-J catheters be treated without further manipulation. However, patients presenting with a ureteral stone that cannot be maneuvered into the renal pelvis can benefit from placement of an end-hole catheter and saline irrigation.
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