EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK-WAVE LITHOTRIPSY IN CHILDREN

In general, the criteria for treatment of urolithiasis in children are the same as those for adults. Today, extracorporeal shock wave lithot ripsy (ESWL) is the method of choice for treatment of most pediatric u rinary stones. Stone-free rates between 57 % and 97 % at short-term fo llow-up and 57 %-92 % at long-term follow-up have proven the efficacy of ESWL treatment in children. So far, there is no evidence of negativ e side effects of ESWL treatment in children in the long-term, confirm ing the safety of ESWL treatment seen in the short-term results. In pa rticular, neither induction of hypertension nor deterioration of renal function have been detected in children when limitation of shock wave energy and shock wave numbers have been carefully observed.