Initial EDAP LT-01 lithotripsy group experience in the United States

The initial United States cooperative experience with the EDAP LT-01 second generation piezoelectric extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor using ultrasonic guidance is presented. Particular to the machine are lack of radiation exposure, no need for anesthesia, a purely outpatient procedure, no electrocardiographic problems, a high degree of safety and a paucity of complications. The equipment is described briefly. The same machine currently is being used to destroy renal and biliary stones. The results are encouraging and highly comparable to the initial experience with the earlier machines. Fragmentation rates are approximately 86%, with destruction rates of 63.4% over-all. Ultrasound localization and monitoring proved surprisingly easy to learn and were increasingly less of a problem as experience was gained. No serious complications were observed, and there were no renal losses and no deaths. Only 3 cases of steinstrasse were noted among 461 with 633 stones targeted during 595 treatments.