Efficacy and treatment outcome of a new electromagnetic lithotripter for upper urinary tract calculi

To evaluate the efficacy and treatment outcome of a new electromagnetic lithotripter-The Siemens Lithoskop-in the treatment of upper urinary tract stones.

Data of 218 consecutively treated patients for upper urinary tract stones between August 2006 and December 2007 with complete follow-up was collected from a prospectively maintained data-base. All patients underwent outpatient based extracorporeal SWL with the shock wave system Pulso integrated into the Siemens Lithoskop platform.

Mean surface areas of renal and ureteral stones were 65 +/- 59 mm(2) and 32 +/- 18 mm(2) respectively. Overall, 95% of urinary stones demonstrated fragmentation post SWL. After three months follow-up 84% and 88% of patients harboring renal and ureteral stones were regarded as treatment success. Patients harboring renal or ureteral stones <10 mm were successful treated in 95%. Auxiliary measures in renal and ureteral stones were necessary in 7.8 and 18.8% of patients respectively. Mean number of sessions performed for renal and ureteral stones were 1.6 +/- 1 and 1.4 +/- 0.8, respectively. No major complications as sepsis or renal hematoma were observed.

Outpatient based electromagnetic SWL using the Lithoskop achieves high fragmentation and success rates with minimal analgesia requirements and a low complication rate.