Treatment of Urinary Calculi with Ureteroscopy and Swiss Lithoclast Pneumatic Lithotripter: Report of 150 Cases

Abstract

Purpose: To present our clinic experience with the Swiss Lithoclast pneumatic lithotripter in the endoscopic management of urinary calculi. Patients and Methods: From August 1994 to December 1997, 145 patients with ureteral calculi and 5 patients with urethral calculi were treated with the Swiss Lithoclast. Results: In the ureteral stone group, ureteroscopic addressing of the stones was successful in 133 patients. In 27 patients, the stones were partially fragmented and remained in situ or were pushed back to the calices. They were subsequently treated successfully with SWL. Stones were fragmented in a single session in 101 cases. Complications associated with the procedure included five perforations and four urinary tract infections. All of the five urethral stone patients were treated successfully with pneumatic lithotripsy. The overall successful fragmentation rate thus was 70.7% (106 of 150) and 88.7% (133 of 150) in combination with adjuvant SWL. Conclusions: We have found Swiss Lithoclast pneumatic lithotripsy to be a safe, effective, and economical treatment method for urinary calculi. If combined with other modalities such as SWL, this treatment will be even more effective.