Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the renal transplant patient: a case report and review of literature

Renal allograft lithiasis is a rare complication of renal transplantation, which in the past has required various invasive procedures for adequate stone fragmentation and dissolution. Noninvasive techniques such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) can now be extended to the renal transplant patient. Five cases have been previously reported in which ESWL was used effectively for dissolution of renal allograft calculi. We now report a 6th case in which a calculus, initially identified 2 weeks after renal transplantation, was effectively fragmented 3 years later using ESWL. Based on our experience and the reviewed composite experience in the literature, ESWL is a safe therapy for renal allograft calculi.