Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in patients with cardiac pacemakers

Between May 1985 and July 1988, 11 patients with cardiac pacemakers were treated for renal or ureteral calculi by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. During treatment and at follow-up no dysfunction of the pacemakers was noted. There were no cardiac complications during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. All 11 patients were free of stones within 3 months after therapy. From these data it can be concluded that in patients with cardiac pacemakers extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of renal or ureteral stones can be performed safely when certain precautions are taken and special attention is paid to the electrophysiology of the pacemaker.