Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for vesical stones : local experience

Abstract EN

Background : The classical treatment of vesical stones consists of surgery or transurethral disintegration.

These procedures require anesthesia and hospitalization and are associated with many complications.

Methods : Twenty patients with vesical stones were treated by ESWL using the Siemens Lithostar Multiline in the University Hospital, Saddam College of Medicine.

There were 17 males and 3 females.

The age range was 21-69 years (average 52 years).

Eighteen patients had solitary stones and two had multiple stones (one patient with two stones and one patient with three stones).

Stone size ranged between 9-32 mm.

Results : Complete fragmentation was achieved in 17 patients.

Failure occurred in one patient who had neuropathic bladder secondary to a cerebrovascular accident and was unable to lie still for more than few minutes.

One patient was lost to follow up, and another patient requested surgical treatment.

Conclusion : ESWL for vesical stones was safe and effective.

It was well tolerated, required no analgesia or anesthesia and was associated with no major complications in our series.