Principles of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a noninvasive technique that utilizes frocused shock waves to rragment slones into sand-sized particles, which then pass spon~aneously wi~h urinalion. The clinical use or this technique was first introduced in Germany in 1980, lhrough a machine known as Dornier HM-3 lithotripler. Initially, the procedure was conrined to small renal pelvic stones but as more experience is gained, ESWL applications is being widened to include the vast majority or upper urinary tract calculi. from published resulls in several centers, there is a close measure or agreemenl that: the ou~come depends on the size and composi~ion or the stone, br>ureter size and pathway and patienl ambulalion and hydration potential (Drach et aI, 1986; Chaussy and Fuchs, 1986 and SoCras e t, aI, 1988). Kidney slones 2 cm. or less in ~heir maximum.