Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy monotherapy for large renal calculi

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy with a Dornier HM3 lithotripter was used to treat 199 large (greater than or equal to 3 cm) renal calculi. Calculi were classified as solitary (29), multiple (152) or staghorn (18) with stone-free rates of 55.2, 39.5 and 55.6% respectively. The stone-free rate was not statistically related to stone size, site or multiplicity. Complications occurred in 24 patients (12.8%) and were more common with solitary and staghorn calculi. ESWL is not recommended as primary treatment for most patients with large renal calculi.