[Bladder calculi. Is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy the first choice treatment?]

To evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment of bladder stones using a retrospective study.

Between February 1991 and June 2002, 45 patients with bladder stones were treated (41 males and 4 females). Age ranged from 23 to 87 years. 63% had previous renal-ureteral lithiasis and 29% had undergone upper urinary tract ESWL. We used the Storz Modulith SL 10/SL 20. Treatments were performed using intravenous analgesia on an outpatient basis.

83 sessions of ESWL were performed on 53 stones. Complete fragmentation and elimination was achieved in 55% of the patients after a single session, 26.7% of the patients after 2 sessions, 6.7% after 3 sessions, 8.8% four, and 2.2% five. Mean number of shock waves was 3196.3 with an average 7-8 Kv. 8.5% had stone recurrence due to residual lithiasis, whereas 79% achieved total elimination. 13% required endoscopic procedures to evacuate stone fragments impacted in urethra. 6.6% required transurethral prostatic resection after ESWL.

ESWL therapy is an effective option for the treatment of patients with bladder stones, non invasive, with low morbidity, without need for anesthesia, and outpatient. The effectiveness is high (79% of the patients stone free) and even higher when treating smaller stones.