IMPROVED FOCUSING FOR EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY OF URETERAL CALCULI

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of ureteral calculi, which is us ually performed with the patient in the prone position, may be difficu lt or even impossible under certain conditions because x-ray visibilit y is poor or the calculus is out of range of the shock wave focus. Tre atment conditions can be improved by a simple change in the positionin g of the patient, using the shock wave head from the contralateral sid e. This method is applicable for the common Siemens Lithostar device.