[Pneumatic contact lithotripsy]

The safety and clinical efficacy of electrohydraulic, ultrasonic and pneumatic lithotriptors were compared in experiments on dog ureters and plaster plates. Electrohydraulic and pneumatic were most effective contact lithotriptors. The safest of them was pneumatic, ultrasonic was safer than electrohydraulic. "Lithoclast" lithotripter (EMS) was used in 209 patients who altogether had 327 calculi in the upper and lower urinary tracts. The mechanism of action is based on the transfer of the kinetic discharge energy to the probe and eventually to the concrement. The probes with diameter 2.4, 3, 4.8, 6 FR were employed fitting the channels of ureteropyelocysto- and nephroscopes. Irrespective of chemical structure, successful disintegration was conducted in 97.5% of the concrements. The duration of lithotripsy was 2-60 min. No complications The duration of lithotripsy was 2-60 min. No complications were registered due to pneumatic lithotriptor "Lithoclast" application.