Percutaneous removal of upper urinary tract calculi: experience with ultrasonic lithotripsy

From October 1983 to March 1985, the authors removed upper urinary tract calculi percutaneously in 102 patients. In 89 patients, stones required disruption with an ultrasonic lithotriptor before removal. Fifty-two patients had a stone in the renal pelvis and 20 had calyceal stones only; 21 had stones at both sites and 9 had a stone in the upper ureter. Complete removal of all stone material was achieved in 67 of 68 patients with a solitary calculus, in 13 of 26 with multiple calculi and in 6 of 8 with ureteric calculi. Complications were minimal; three patients had pulmonary edema postoperatively as a result of excessive absorption of irrigating fluid, and one patient sustained a perforation of the descending colon. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.8 days and patients were able to return to work a few days after their discharge from hospital. Percutaneous stone removal is a safe and effective procedure and is the surgical procedure of choice for the removal of upper urinary tract calculi.