Dornier Lithotripter S 220 F EMSE: the first report of over 1000 treatments.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the short-term efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with the standard Dornier Lithotripter S 220 F EMSE in the treatment of a large population of 736 patients with renal and ureteral stones. This is the only report with more than 1000 treatments performed with this device.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and July 2006, a total of 479 renal and 257 ureteral stones were treated with 1168 ESWL sessions. ESWL was performed on an outpatient basis. Patients were evaluated after 1 and 3 months. Stone size and location, total number of shockwaves, stone-free rate, and complications were investigated.

RESULTS

The stone-free rate for renal calculi was 60.5% at 1 month and 82.5% at 3 months. The stone-free rate for ureteral stones was 58% at 1 month and 82.9% at 3 months. The overall stone-free rate was 59.6% at 1 month and 82.5% at 3 months. Anesthesia was not needed in any case. Analgesia with hospital admission was necessary in 15 patients (2.0%). The major complications observed were renal hematoma in only 1 patient (0.1%), obstruction with sepsis in 3 patients (0.4%), and steinstrasse development in 5 patients (0.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The Dornier Lithotripter S 220 F EMSE is a safe and effective tool in the treatment of urolithiasis; the lack of invasiveness and absence of anesthesia confirm its worthy role as an alternative to ureterorenoscopy and percutaneous nephrolitotomy.