Outpatient extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a new procedure for which patient-management guidelines are still being established. We retrospectively reviewed the first 246 patients treated with ESWL at our facility. Nearly 50 per cent were treated as outpatients, and more than 70 per cent of patients admitted to the hospital were discharged on the first day after ESWL. We conclude that outpatient ESWL is feasible, but that further study is necessary to improve selection of patients for this procedure.