The effect of ultrasonic disintegration on the outcome of percutaneous nephrolithotripsy

Concern has been expressed regarding the use of ultrasonic lithotripsy in the percutaneous treatment of renal calculi with the suggestion that high rates of retained stones may be experienced. Evaluation of 89 patients with stones confined to the renal pelvis treated both with and without ultrasonic lithotripsy were evaluated with regard to stone size, retained fragments, stone composition and previous renal surgery. It is felt that it is not the use of ultrasonic lithotripsy that leads to longer hospitalization and retained fragments, but rather the size of the renal calculi and the complexity of arrangement.