Shockwave lithotripsy and pacemakers: experience with 20 cases

Lithotripsy treatment of urinary tract calculi initially excluded patients with cardiac pacemakers. Continued research and clinical study of patient outcomes has promoted a change in that initial concept. The Oklahoma Lithotripsy Center has successfully treated 20 patients with various types of pacemakers. No significant cardiovascular events occurred during treatment. Patients should be evaluated before the procedure by a cardiologist, and dual-chamber pacemakers should be reprogrammed to the single-chamber mode. Patients who cannot tolerate this should not undergo SWL. Rate-responsive pacemakers should be programmed to the non-rate-responsive (VVI) mode. The pacemaker should be at least 5 cm from the blast path. With these precautions and careful monitoring, SWL can be performed safely in most patients with pacemakers.