Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) : an evaluation of ESWL in patients suffering from urolithiasis in Malta.

Abstract

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is a type of treatment utilized for renal stone disease, which involves shattering of kidney stones by means of shock waves from outside the body. This research was performed to evaluate patient outcomes following this type of treatment. 38 patients who underwent ESWL treatment between March 2009 and February 2010 at the General State Hospital, Malta were included in this study. The data was collected from different radiological examinations with respect to calculus size, location and fragmentation. The overall percentage success rate of the procedure was found to be 93%. A successful rate was defined to be achieved when either the stones decreased in size or when the patient became stone free. Calculi in the upper, middle and lower calyx had a success rate of 100%, 71% and 92% respectively. Moreover, stones within the renal pelvis and ureter both had a success rate of 100% in this case series. It was also found that the stone size did have an impact on the efficiency of ESWL. The results obtained show that ESWL is an effective and promising instrument for treating urinary calculi throughout the urinary tract in appropriately selected patients. Based on these results certain conclusions and recommendations were hence put forward.