New approaches in the treatment of renal calculi.

Indications for intervention in patients with renal stone disease include persistent pain or bleeding, obstruction, infection and the presence of stones that are too large to pass spontaneously. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has revolutionized the surgical treatment of kidney stones. Contraindications include anticoagulation, bleeding diathesis, sepsis and renal malignancy. Stones in the renal pelvis and upper ureter are treated with shock wave lithotripsy; those in the lower ureter are best approached with the ureteroscope.