USE OF SWISS LITHOCLAST FOR PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTRIPSY

Despite the advent of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutane ous nephrolithotripsy still plays a prominent role in the management o f large and staghorn renal calculi. Modalities available for intracorp oreal lithotripsy include ultrasound, electrohydraulic, and laser. I r eport my experience with the Swiss Lithoclast in performing percutaneo us nephrolithotripsy in 45 patients. The advantages of this device in percutaneous stone removal include its rapidity, safety, ease of use, and usefulness in clearing the initial calix during staghorn stone rem oval.