Piezoelectric extracorporeal lithotripsy by ultrashort waves with the EDAP LT 01 device

A total of 433 extracorporeal lithotripsy procedures was performed for renal, ureteral and bladder stones by means of a system of ultrasonographic detection and piezoelectric destruction in 386 patients. The stones were detected easily in 87 per cent of the patients, difficult to detect in 10 per cent and impossible to detect in 3 per cent. Mean duration of treatment was 35 minutes. Mean number of piezoelectric waves was 2,700 at 1.25 per second. With a frequency of 1.25 to 5 per second, extracorporeal lithotripsy was performed without any local, regional or general anesthesia, and without premedication in 210 patients. Of the 217 patients with a renal stone reviewed at 3 months 161 (74 per cent) had successful results and 56 (26 per cent) failed therapy. Thirty patients (14 per cent) underwent 2 or 3 sessions. The morbidity was low: 2 per cent of the patients suffered ureteral obstruction, 1.5 per cent had subcapsular hematoma and 4 per cent had fever. No significant modifications of laboratory tests were necessary and no patient suffered renal failure. Of the stones 31 in the lumbar ureter, 15 in the pelvic ureter and 8 in the bladder were treated, with success rates of 87, 46 and 50 per cent, respectively. A total of 103 patients was treated on an outpatient basis. This outpatient treatment, together with the low cost and minimal maintenance of the apparatus, and the absence of anesthesia constitute a new progress in the treatment of renal stones.