[Experiences with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in 61 children]

Between March 1985 and January 1987 2547 ESWL treatments were performed on 2064 patients, including 33 boys and 28 girls younger than 18 years. Almost identical results were obtained in children as in adults. All stones desintegrated and success was achieved in 97%; 79% was considered stone-free after 6 months and 18% had passable asymptomatic residual fragments (biggest fragments less than 3 mm) which did not grow larger during a mean follow-up of 17.8 months. One patient had a recurrent stone, after having been stone-free for 13 months. Post-ESWL complications and morbidity were minimal. Auxiliary measures were necessary in 5 patients before ESWL and in 6 patients after ESWL. Failure to render the kidney free of stones occurred in 2 patients with complex urolithiasis. Because of these results ESWL should be considered the treatment of choice in the paediatric age group for urolithiasis.