[Clinical application of third generation extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor (TRIPTER X-1) to upper urinary tract...

Clinical trials of the third generation extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor (TRIPTER X-1) on 30 patients with upper urinary tract calculi were performed from May to July, 1988. Eighteen patients (60%) were free from stones and 5 (16.7%) had stone fragments less than 5 mm, the effective rate of treatment which is sum of both group being 76.7 per cent, at one month after the treatment. The effective rate was 72.7 per cent for stones in the kidney and 87.5 per cent for those in the upper ureter. And the effective rate as to stone size was 100, 66.7 and 71.4 per cent, in stones less than 1 cm, 1 cm to less than 2 cm and 2 to 2.5 cm, respectively. Although gross hematuria skin ecchymosis, pain and fever were observed as side effects, none was serious enough to be mentioned. And post operative changes in blood chemistry were mild and transient. We confirmed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy using this machine for upper urinary tract stones is an effective treatment without any serious side effects.