Clinical application of Sonolith 2000 type B on extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper urinary tract calculi

This report describes the results of clinical trials of the second generation extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor (Sonolith 2000 Type B) in patients with upper urinary tract stones. The studies were carried out on 101 cases at the Departments of Urology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Kanto Teishin Hospital and General Daiyukai Hospital from Nov. 1987 to Jun. 1988. The location of stones were renal calyx and pelvis in 84 cases, ureteropelvic junction in 7 cases and upper ureter in 12 cases (2 of them had multiple stones at different levels). The average number of treatment per a patient was 1.25, and that of shock waves delivered per treatment was 1798. Ultrasound localization has been effective in all cases. The rate of destruction of the stones was 100% in the kidney, 66.7% in the upper ureter, with an overall average of 95.0%. On the X-ray film obtained six weeks after ESWL treatment, the stone free rate was 53.5%, and the effectiveness rate was 89.1%, including the cases of stone free and cases with fragments smaller than 5 mm. No serious adverse effect was observed, although there were mild transient hematuria in all cases and pyrexia (more than 38.0 degrees C) in 7 cases (6.9%). The procedure was performed safely in the majority of patients without anesthesia. In 10 cases, we applied anesthesia (epidural anesthesia in 3 cases, and local anesthesia in 7 cases) for the prevention of pain. It is concluded that ESWL treatment using Sonolith 2000 Type B is as effective as other types of shock wave lithotriptor previously applied to urolithiasis without serious clinical complication.     

X-ray effect on patients with upper urinary tract calculi during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

This study reports the results of radiation exposure to 90 patients with upper urinary tract calculi during Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL). A domestically made JT-ESWL-I lithotripter was used. Radiation exposure to the patients averaged 67.02 mSv at 65-70 kV, 2 mA. The data indicated that the amount of radiation exposure is related to the number, size, location and the radiodensity of the stone, and also the number of shock wave and the time of fluoroscopy exposure given to the patients. The results of the chromosome aberration and the micronucleus of lymphocytes assay in the human blood are reported and the prevention of radiation exposure is discussed.     

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones using piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy]

Between August 1999 and July 2000, 123 cases of renal stones and 52 cases of ureteral stones in 116 males and 59 females were treated with the New Piezolith 2500. The average number of sessions required for renal and ureteral stones was 2.50 and 1.48, respectively. At 3 months postoperatively, stone-free rates for renal and ureteral stones were 64.2% and 72.7%, respectively. Assessing residual stones less than 4 mm in diameter as an effective treatment outcome, the efficacy rates for renal and ureteral stones were 94.3% and 86.4%, respectively. Side effects were encountered in 5 cases (2.9%) of high fever and one case (0.57%) of renal subcapsular hematoma. New Piezolith 2500 is effective and safe for the treatment of upper urinary stones.     

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of ureteric stones with the Modulith SL 20.

A series of 138 patients with ureteric calculi was treated by in situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) during the clinical introduction of the Modulith SL 20. This machine represents a newly developed lithotriptor with an electromagnetic cylinder as shock wave source and a dual localisation system consisting of in-line ultrasound and an integrated fluoroscope C-arm. During the first 2 months, 12 patients (phase 1) were treated under ultrasound localisation alone; during the next 5 months, 37 patients (phase 2) were treated using dual imaging modalities with reduced peak pressure (max. 18 kV = 800 bar); during the final 7 months, 89 patients (phase 3) were treated under ultrasonic and fluoroscopic localisation combined with an increased maximal shock wave pressure (20 kV = 1024 bar). The introduction of fluoroscopic targeting (phases 2 and 3) resulted in satisfactory localisation of calculi in the mid-ureter, previously limited by use of only coaxial ultrasound. The extension of stone localisation to the whole length of the ureter was associated with a marked decrease in treatment time, reflecting the easy handling of the dual localisation system. The rise in generator voltage (phase 3) improved the disintegration rate from 81% (phase 2) to 85%, whereas the number of impulses remained unchanged. However, the rate of auxiliary procedures following ESWL (adjuvant and curative) was reduced from 33% (phase 2) to 24.5%. Thus the Modulith SL 20 in its final design enables in situ ESWL to be the treatment of choice for all ureteric calculi, rendering special positioning techniques or multiple treatment unnecessary.     

Clinical application of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy to 5 solitary kidney patients with upper urinary tract stones

We performed extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to 5 solitary kidney patients with upper urinary tract stones (4 kidneys and 1 lower ureter) using the EDAP lithotripter LT-01 and achieved 4 complete and 1 well results. The size of stones ranged from 8 mm to staghorn and trials were 1 to 10 units. We could accomplish perfect crushing and abortion of stones in the 4 renal stone patients without any adjuvant systems as ureteral stent but nephrostomy was needed in the 1 lower ureteral stone patient developed anuria. The values of blood pressure, hematology, blood chemical constituents and urine excretion enzymes at a month after the last ESWL were not so changed compared with those of preoperation and also excretory urogram showed favorable findings. In this series decreased renal functions by ESWL were not observed. We confirmed ESWL was an effective and a safe method even in the cases of solitary kidney patients and monotherapy without any adjuvants was possible.     

Clinical experience of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for elderly patients with upper urinary stones]

This study was aimed to evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) performed in elderly patients. ESWL by Triptor X-1 was used to treat 530 patients with upper urinary tract stones from 1991 to 1998. Sixty one (11.5%) of them were aged 70 years and older. The results of ESWL treatment in this elderly group were compared retrospectively with those in 122 patients aged from 20 to 39 and 243 patients aged from 40 to 59. Although the elderly had a higher incidence of preoperative risk factors, the postoperative complication rates were similar among all groups. The stone-free rate and the success rate at one month in the elderly group were 67.2% and 92.5%, respectively, which were similar to those in the younger groups. These results suggested that ESWL offered a safe and effective means of treating upper urinary tract stones in elderly patients.     

Pain and extracorporeal lithotripsy for calculi of the upper urinary tract

This study evaluates, 1) the pain induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal stones using a piezo-electric shock wave lithotriptor (EDAP LT 01) and 2) the predictive factors for severe pain leading to an indication for analgesia. The relationship between extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy intensity and pain intensity is evaluated by a numerical scale at the beginning of the session (T0), after 15 min (T15) and after 30 min (T30). At the end of the session, patients are categorized by one of us using a three-point scale which integrates the pain and the maximum tolerable intensity. These two types of evaluation are well correlated. Successive levels of stimulation are well discriminated by patients. Habituation is observed during the session for patients with low-level pain. In 28% of the patients, the intensity of pain required analgesia. Pain cannot be predicted by age, anxiety state, side of the stones and size, diameter of the contact between patient and convergence dome. In contrast, three parameters are correlated with the pain level: The L1 distance of renal parenchyma and the L2 distance skin-stone crossed by the piezoelectric waves, the size of the stone. The superior caliceal, middle caliceal and pelvic stones are significantly the most painful. These predictive variables can be easily measured before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.     

Clinical experience with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in upper urinary tract stones

We treated 100 patients of upper urinary tract stone using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), from April to October 1986. Eighty-six of the patients were treated by ESWL monotherapy, and the other cases required further treatment, such as percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL), and transurethral ureterolithotripsy (TUL). On the X-ray film obtained from one to three months after ESWL, 73 patients had no stones, 8 patients had sandy stones, 7 patients had small fragments less than 5 mm, 2 patients had large stones equal to or greater than 5 mm and 10 patients could not be followed up. Therefore, 97.7% of all patients were successfully treated. In conclusion, ESWL is considered to be an ideal method to treat upper urinary tract stones, and soon will become the first choice of treatment of urolithiasis together with the progress in endourological techniques.     

Results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones

The treatment results of 697 renal units in 687 patients treated for upper urinary tract stones using a Piezolith 2500 at the Ageo Central General Hospital during the 5-year period between August 1999 and July 2004 were analyzed. The stone-free rate and the success rate were calculated according to the stone size and location. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the effect of the patient age, sex, affected side, stone location and stone size on the stone-free rate and the success rate. Overall, the stone-free rate and the success rate at 3 months after treatment were 82.6% and 91.9%, respectively. The stone-free rates in renal and ureteral stones were 60.5% and 88.7%, respectively. The success rates for renal and ureteral stones were 93.6% and 91.6%, respectively. In a univariate logistic regression analysis, patient age and stone size were significant negative factors for both the stone-free rate and the success rate and the stone location in ureter was a significant positive factor only for the stone-free rate. In a multivariate analysis, stone location in the ureter had a positive effect on the stone-free rate, although a negative effect on the success rate. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones was an effective and safe treatment modality. However, if pre-treatment factors indicate unfavorable outcome, the other treatment options should be considered for the first line therapy.     

Management of upper ureteral calculi with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

The results of 471 extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatments in 465 patients with solitary ureteral stones managed by several different techniques are reported. In situ treatment was performed in 123 cases without instrumentation and in 47 after placement of a ureteral catheter. Retrograde stone manipulation was performed in 245 cases immediately before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and an additional 56 were manipulated with ureteral stent placement at least 1 week before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The success rate was significantly greater if the stone was manipulated into the kidney before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. Significantly less energy (p less than 0.0001) was required for complete disintegration if the stone was free floating in the kidney. The need for subsequent procedures was significantly less (p less than 0.0001) for stones manipulated successfully into the kidney. Complications were infrequent, with the most common being ureteral perforation in 5.1 per cent of the cases, all of which were managed conservatively. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is the treatment of choice for proximal ureteral calculi because it is less morbid than percutaneous approaches and provides significantly better results than ureteroscopy. An attempt at manipulation of proximal ureteral calculi back into the kidney should be made before extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.     

Clinical experience of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for cystine calculi

Thirty patients (16 men and 14 women) with cystine urinary stones were treated by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (Dormer HM-3) from December 1984 through October 1989. The average patient age was 35.2 years with a range of 14 to 59 years. Seventy per cent of these subjects had had previous open surgical operations for stones. The cases consisted of 7 ureteral stones and 37 renal stones, including 15 staghorn calculi. An average of 1.3 session of ESWL was carried out to treat ureteral stones. Thirty-seven renal units with renal stone required 96 sessions of lithotripsy (average 2.6 sessions per unit). Seven patients with ureteral stones required auxiliary procedures, i.e., one transurethral lithotripsy (TUL), two percutaneous nephrostomies (PNS) and one open surgery. Thirty-seven renal stones, including staghorn calculi was treated by ESWL and auxiliary treatment of 21 TUL procedures, one PNS, 16 PNL procedures and one chemical chemolysis. Successful fragmentation (residual debris less than or equal to 4 mm) was achieved in 85.7% of ureteral stones, 90.9% of renal stones and 73.3% of staghorn calculi. The stone free rates of patients with ureteral stones, renal stones and staghorn calculi were 71.4%, 50.0% and 53.5%, respectively, at 3 months after ESWL. No serious complications were seen in this series. Fever above 38.5 degrees C was the most common complications (13.5%). Ureteral perforation was encountered once in TUL procedures. Transfusion and selective arterial embolization were needed for one case treated by PNL procedures. Although cystine stone is harder to be fragmented by ESWL than other stone composition, ESWL and endourology may be effective and safe procedures for cystine stone patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical application of Therasonic lithotripsy treatment system for upper urinary tract calculi

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) using a Therasonic lithotripter was performed on 30 patients with urinary tract calculi between July, 1989 and February, 1990. The results obtained in 31 cases (one patient had bilateral renal stones) were presented. There were 22 inpatients and 8 outpatients in this series. The stone location was: renal pelvis in 15 cases, renal calyces in 10 cases, parenchyma or diverticulum of renal calyces in 3 cases, ureteropelvic junction in 1 case, and upper ureter in 2 cases. Sixteen cases (52%) became stone-free and residual stones (less than or equal to 4 mm) remained in 9 cases (overall effective rate 81%) at one month after the treatment. There were no serious complications including bacteremia and renal hematoma. We concluded that Therasonic lithotripter is useful in the management of upper urinary tract calculi.     

Efficacy of in situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper ureteral calculi

In contrast to the majority of renal calculi, in situ extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for upper ureteral stones is still controversial. Some centers recommend retrograde mobilization of the calculus into the renal pelvis prior to ESWL as a routine procedure (UC + ESWL). To evaluate the efficiency of in situ ESWL for upper ureteric stones, we initiated a prospective clinical trial. From July 1985 to January 1986, 122 patients presented with upper ureteral calculi, necessitating a total of 146 different procedures: 88 in situ ESWL; 31 UC + ESWL; 15 antegrade ureteroscopies (URS); 6 retrograde URS; 2 open surgery (ureterolithotomy, nephrectomy), and 4 patients were managed conservatively. Of all 99 patients treated at the lithotripter, 80 patients received in situ ESWL (no emergency case, no location problems): in 60 patients (75%) the stone could be disintegrated in one session; 8 patients (10%) required a second ESWL session due to partial fragmentation. Retrograde mobilization using a ureteral catheter or URS was necessary in 9 patients due to failure of in situ ESWL (11%) and, in only 3 patients, we had to remove the stone by antegrade URS (4%). In conclusion, 96% of all upper ureteric stones suitable for primary ESWL could be treated by a noninvasive (in situ ESWL) or minimally invasive (UC + ESWL) procedure. Therefore we recommend in situ ESWL for these calculi. Primary retrograde mobilization is only indicated in case of location problems (stone close to the spine, obesity, skeleton deformation) or emergency cases (colic, hydronephrosis). Antegrade URS should be performed if retrograde mobilization fails or in emergency cases (acute pyelonephritis, following percutaneous nephrostomy, after clinical stabilization). The rate of open surgery is below 2%.     

Clinical application of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (Dornier MFL-5000) for upper urinary tract stones]

The results of clinical application of an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (MFL-5000, Dornier, Germany) were presented. The treatments were performed from August 1989 to November 1989 at the University of Tokyo. A total of 40 sessions were carried out on 32 patients with 51 upper urinary tract stones. On the X-ray films obtained three months after the last sessions, 10 patients (34.5%) were free from stone fragments and 4 (13.8%) had stone fragments equal or less than 4 mm. After treatment no serious adverse effect was observed. Macroscopic hematuria was observed in almost all patients, pyrexia in 7 (21.9%), and flank pain in 6 (18.8%). On the laboratory data after treatments, there were slight and transient changes which were milder than those of the first generation lithotripter. It is concluded that MFL-5000 is useful and safe in the management of patients with upper urinary tract stones.     

Clinical application of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (SD-3) to upper urinary tract stones]

The extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (SD-3) was used on 30 patients with upper urinary tract calculi from December, 1988 to March, 1989. At one month after the treatment, 11 patients (36.7%) were free from stones and 9 (30.0%) had stone fragments than 5 mm in diameter, making an effective rate of treatment of 66.7%. Gross hematuria, skin ecchymosis, pain and fever were observed as side effects, but none of them were serious. We concluded that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy using SD-3 for upper urinary tract stones is an effective treatment without any serious side effects.     

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with the Storz Modulith SL20: the first 500 patients.

Our initial experience of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with the Storz Modulith SL20 is reported. A total of 500 patients with 551 renal and 120 ureteric stones, mean diameter 11.9 mm, underwent 746 treatments; 68.2% of patients required a single treatment. The mean treatment rate for renal calculi was 1.4 and for ureteric calculi it was 1.5, rising to 4.2 for staghorns; 62.2% of treatments were performed on an out-patient basis. Analgesia (intravenous fentanyl) was required in 60.9% of treatments for renal calculi but in only 38.2% of those for ureteric calculi. The overall stone-free rate at 3 months was 77.6%, with a further 14.7% of patients having fragments less than 3 mm in diameter that required no further treatment. The stone-free rate was dependent on the site of the stone, with the majority of residual fragments lying in a lower pole calix. There were few complications. The Modulith is an efficient and safe lithotripter capable of treating stones in the kidney and throughout the ureter.     

Treatment of unusual Kock pouch urinary calculi with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Since the establishment of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of upper urinary tract calculi, further potential applications have been explored. We report the successful use of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of obstructive calculi on staples within the afferent nipple of a Kock pouch ureteroileal urinary diversion.