Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: first choice therapy for ureteral stones

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy represents the first choice therapy for reno-ureteral stone disease, being successful in more than 85% of cases. When extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is associated with both appropriate cystoscopic manipulations and with a proper positioning of the patient on the stretcher of the lithotripter, it can be successfully applied to ureteral stones regardless of their specific location. We report 99 patients with ureteral calculi submitted to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy with a stone free rate of 98%.