Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

There hundred sixteen patients with symptomatic upper and lower urinary tract calculi underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) at the Ohio Kidney Stone Center during the first three months. Ninety-seven percent of the stones were treated with one ESWL session. Twenty-four percent of the treatments required cystoscopy with ureteral stent placement for manipulation of stones to facilitate ESWL. Complications were minimal, less than three percent.