Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for urolithiasis with renal insufficiency

Management of urolithiasis with renal insufficiency poses a multidimensional nephrourological situation. Sixty-two patients of potentially reversible calculus obstructive nephropathy and azotemia were treated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the Sieman's Lithostar. These patients were treated under sedoanalgesia after the initial therapeutic ureteral stenting. Satisfactory fragmentation was achieved in all the patients. The incidence of major complications was 3.2% with an 85% stone-free rate at 6 months. Pre- and post-ESWL hemodialysis was required in 14 and 3 patients, respectively. All patients had variable levels of improvement in the renal function. Proper selection of cases is mandatory for satisfactory outcome. The combination of ureteral stenting followed by phased ESWL represents an attractive alternative to traditional surgical management of stones with renal insufficiency.