[Experience with ESWL treatment of giant kidney and ureteral calculi (based on 1400 cases)]

On the basis of the treatment of 1400 patients who suffered from kidney and ureter stones we may conclude that 80-82% of the extractable stones can be treated with ESWL monotherapy. ESWL proved to be successful in almost every case where there were 2 or 3 cm large--or larger--kidney stones or stones at almost any part of the ureter. The extraction of the larger kidney stones can be helped with stent put up previously, nephrostome or repeated ESWL. We apply other invasive methods more and more rarely. The aiming and treatment of ureter stones which can be found at different parts of the ureter is better with adjuvant laying and diagnostic methods. In the case of staghorn calculi ESWL can be combined with percutaneous operations. In the case of large staghorn calculi traditional operations seem to be the most successful methods after which percutaneous treatment or ESWL can be performed if there are fragments left behind.