Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and endoscopic management of renal calculi with urinary diversions

A total of 12 patients with urinary diversions had calculi in 15 kidneys managed initially by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 12 kidneys and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in 3. After 15 treatments with ESWL only 3 of the 12 kidneys (25%) became stone-free. Endoscopic procedures were used in 5 kidneys with fragments remaining after ESWL, and comprised percutaneous ultrasound lithotripsy in 2 and transstomal retrograde manipulations in 3. The 3 initial and 5 subsequent endoscopic procedures resulted in 6 of the 8 kidneys (75%) being stone-free. The poor results with ESWL are due to preexisting dilated upper urinary tracts and to immobility in obese myelomeningocele patients. Endoscopic procedures are the preferred method of treatment in these patients.