EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY OF RADIOLUCENT URINARY CALCULI USING THE DORNIER HM-3 AND HM-4 LITHOTRIPTORS

Between September 1992 and June 1995, 33 patients with radiolucent uri nary calculi were treated in our hospital using Dornier HM-3 and HM-4 lithotriptors. There were 11 caliceal stones, 13 in the renal pelvis, and 9 in the meter. Stone localization was achieved in only 30 patient s using intravenous urography or retrograde urography through a ureter ic catheter during the procedure. All patients were treated on an outp atient basis, without anesthesia. During the Ist month following extra corporeal shock wave lithotripsy, the patients received alkalization. The overall stone-free rate at 3 months was 90%. The time of radiation exposure was in the range of the opacified stones. Extracorporeal sho ck wave lithotripsy using Dornier HM-3 and HM-4 lithotriptors proved t o be an effective procedure to treat radiolucent urinary calculi when localization of the stone is possible.