Objectives: To define the threshold values of   the significant predictors in the application of Extracorporeal Shocks Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) for the treatment of ureter stones.

Material and Methods: From January 2005 to May 2008, 106 patients with mean age of 42.7 years(range: 24-80), who were treated by ESWL due to ureteral stones(mean diameters: 9.54mm,range:5-20)  were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups according to the localization of the stones; upper ureter, middle and lower.  The groups were compared in terms of the stone-free rates, diameters and area of the stones, mean and total number of shock waves and number of sessions.

Results:  The overall stone-free rate(83%)showed significant correlation with number of sessions(p=0.028). The success rates for upper, middle and lower ureter stones were %86.4, %88.5, %75 respectively(p=0.28). In multivariate analysis, stone area, stone diameters and localization of the stone did not significantly effect the success arte, and only  session number was found to have significant effect(p=0.038), The success rate in patients with stone diameters more than 1cm was 79% and the mean number of sessions was 2.59. The success rate in patients who needed more than three sessions was 61%.

Conclusion:  ESWL represent reasonable choice for the treatment of ureteric stone regardless to location.  The number of session seems to be the dominant determinant of the success rate. In patient with large stone or in cases who had not  stone fragmentation after the third session a good success could be achieved by increasing the number of sessions.

Conference Title

turkish internartional urology congress

Conference Country

Turkey

Conference Date

Jan. 1, 2008 - Jan. 1, 2008

Conference Sponsor

turkish internartional urology congress