[Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy--beginning of a restructuring in the treatment of urinary calculi?]

After 31/2 years experiences with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) 852 patients have been treated. Because of the significant expansion of indications for ESWL from 15 to 70% of unselected stone formers, a permanent decrease of surgical stone removal can be expected, when ESWL availability is more sufficient. This may cause a change in the urological routine management of stone disease.