[Outpatient extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Prospective evaluation of 2937 cases]

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is mainly performed on inpatient basis in Germany. It has yet to be considered if outpatient treatment in Germany is indicated when sufficient urological care is guaranteed.

Between September 1989 and December 2002, a total of 10,505 patients with urolithiasis were treated at the Institut zur Steinzertrümmerung in Troisdorf, Germany with the Siemens Lithostar plus. Of these patients, 2937 (43%) were treated on an outpatient basis. The data were collected prospectively from September 1989. Patient satisfaction was evaluated with a self-developed, non-validated questionnaire.

The overall success rate was 81.8%. The complication rate after ESWL was 40.2%, whereas 4.9% of the patients had to be admitted to a hospital; 73.5% did not need auxiliary treatment before and 78.6% after ESWL, respectively. More than 90% of the patients were satisfied with the result of outpatient treatment.

Outpatient ESWL can be safely performed as minimally invasive treatment after thorough patient selection in Germany. The success and quality of treatment was not altered because of outpatient treatment. A network of ESWL center and post-interventional care center has to be established to guarantee 24-h service for auxiliary necessities.