[Treatment of renal calculi with extracorporeal lithotripsy. Experience of the Urology Service at Rennes. Preliminary report on 134 patients].

The results of 134 patients who underwent 150 treatments with the EDAP lithotriptor are reported. The first patients were treated with a frequency of 150 Hz under general anesthesia, with a success rate of 64%. In order to decrease the pain induced by the shocks waves, the frequency was lowered (20 Hz and 10 Hz), so that treatment could be performed under neuroleptic analgesia. The success rate was respectively 84% and 90%. A second treatment was required in 11% of the patients and 9% have undergone auxiliary endoscopic manoeuvres preoperatively. Morbidity was extremely low with only 3% of ureteral obstruction. The gradual reduction of anesthesia constitutes an advance in lowered morbidity and costs; in addition, the possibility to repeat the treatments makes the management of complex lithiasis easier.