Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of urinary calculi in the elderly

Renal calculus in the elderly patient is associated with the same symptoms and risks as in other patient populations. With the recent development of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), many older patients can now be treated for renal calculi. The Department of Urology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has performed 107 ESWL treatments on a total of 96 patients over 70 years of age. This represents over 12% of all patients treated at our institution. No deaths related to ESWL treatment have occurred in this group, nor has increased morbidity been observed in comparison to all patients treated. In spite of the increased age and associated medical problems of this patient population, ESWL offers a safe and effective means of treating upper tract urinary calculi in the geriatric age group.