Even though extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the mainstay of urolithiasis treatment there is stili a need for endourological treatment of ureteral and renal calculi. Stone fragmentation is usually achieved either with ultrasonic electrohydraulic or laser lithotriptors. A new, inexpensive machine has recently been developed: the EMS Lithoclast, based on pneumatic shock waves, for endoscopic stone disintegration. This device was used to treat 44 patients with ureteral stones with complete disintegration of all stones.
SchulzeH., HauptG., PiergiovanniM., WisardM., von NiedehausernW., SengeT.: The Swiss Lithoclast: a new device for endoscopic stone disintegration. I. Urol., 149: 15–18, 1993.
2.
PiergiovanniM., WisardM.: Il Lithoclast a percussione EMS: tre anni di esperienza clinica. Acta Urol. Ital., 3: 241–244, 1992.
3.
ZattoniF., AndrettaE., Dal BiancoM., VianelloF., MeggiolaroV., BaldanM.: Litotrissia ad energia balistica nella calcolosi reno-ureterale. Urologia, 60 (2): 189–191, 1993.
