Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for difficulty in withdrawal of double J ureteral stents due to ureteral lithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to coping with lithiasis-induced difficulty in withdrawing double J ureteral stents. METHODS: This study includes 6 patients with difficulty in withdrawing the stents due to lithiasis, who were in the anterior prone position or posterior oblique supine position to receive ESWL treatment. The stones were localized by double-band intersection X-ray system. The treatment voltage of shock wave was 11.2 kV initially, which was gradually increased to 18.1 kV, and the shock wave attack amounted to 1,000 to 3,000 times in total. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After ESWL treatment, the encrusted double J stents were successfully withdrawn in all the 6 cases, without causing any morbidity related to the use of ESWL. Among the various techniques available for removing encrusted double J stents, ESWL appears to be the most effective and the least invasive modality.