Success rate of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) : a study of the efficacy of ESWL in relation to stone composition.

Abstract

The procedure of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a type of treatment used m patients diagnosed with renal stones, in which disintegration of these stones occurs. The main aim of this research was to investigate the outcomes of ESWL in relation to stone composition. The study consisted of 12 patients, from a total of 96 patients, who have undergone ESWL in the period between May 2010 and February 2011 at a General State Hospital in Malta. Various types of imaging examinations were used in order to follow patients before and after the treatment. The overall percentage success rate of ESWL was found to be 67%. Calcium oxalate and triple phosphate stones experienced a success rate of 100%, whereas calcium phosphate stones experienced the least fragmentation, with a success rate of 33%. Uric acid and cystine stones experienced differing degrees of fragmentation, with a success rate of 67% and 50% respectively. From the results obtained ESWL has been shown to be an effective treatment for certain types of stone composition, such as calcium oxalate, therefore contributing to a better management of patients with renal stones. Based on the results obtained certain conclusions and recommendations were proposed.