Electromagnetic induced shock wave therapy of ureteral calculi

Between March 1989 and July 1990, 86 patients with ureteral stones were treated with electromagnetic induced extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy at our facility, of which 77 were available for follow-up. Sixty-one of the patients were male, 16 were female, and the average age was 53.8 +/- 16.0 (11-84). Seventy-four of the patients were treated with intravenous sedation. One patient required general anesthesia and two other patients requested no sedation. Sixty-four of 77 (83%) patients were stone free after therapy, 59 of 77 (77%) after a single treatment, and 5 of 9 (56%) after a second treatment. Thirteen patients were hospitalized post therapy, however, 6 had been hospitalized pretreatment because of pain or obstruction. Four major complications were encountered: hematoma (1), ureteral stricture (1), urinary extravasation (1), and proximal stent migration (1). There were no statistically significant differences between stone free and non-stone free patients when comparing for sex, age, stone size, number of shocks, maximum kilovoltage, or duration of symptoms pretreatment. The patients who had unsuccessful treatment, however, were noted to have a significantly greater incidence of distal stones (69% v 39%) (P less than .05).