ELECTROLYTIC DISSOLUTION OF URINARY STONES

An electrochemical method, based on the anodic oxidation and/or protol ysis of oxalate and phosphate ions, uric acid and cystine, has been de veloped with the aim of extending it to the dissolution of urinary sto nes in situ. The experiments in vitro have proved that the ''Electroli tolysis'', i.e. the dissolution of stones, takes place rapidly in the case they consist of phosphate, less rapidly if they are composed of u ric acid, and more slowly if oxalate and cystine are their constituent s. In any case the velocity cf the anodic reaction is never negligible and opens the possibility of realising an alternative method of undub ious value for the treatment of urinary stones.