EVALUATION OF PNEUMATIC LITHOCLAST EFFICACY IN TREATMENT OF URETERIC STONES

Abstract

ABSTRACT To evaluate the use of ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy in the treatment of ureteral stones and to present our clinical experience in the endoscopic management of ureteral calculi. From February 2005 to January 2007, 60 consecutive patients underwent ureteroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy of ureteral stones. Twenty five patients were females and 35 patients were males with male to female ratio of 1.4: 1. The age range was from 17- 52 years. Thirty six patients had radiolucent stones while 24 patients had radio-opaque stones. Of the 14 patients with upper ureteric stones, the stone free rate for the radio-opaque stones were 50% and for the radiolucent were 75%. Of the 16 patients with midureteric stones, the stone free rate for the radio-opaque stones were 75% and for the radiolucent ureteral calculi was 62.5%. Thirty patients had lower uretric stones; the stone free rate for the radio-opaque stones were 60% and for the radiolucent stones were 85%. The overall stone free rate for ureteral calculi was 71.66%. We conclude that ureleroscopic pneumatic lithotripsy found to be safe, and cost effective mean of clearing ureteric calculi at all levels. It is tolerated well by the patients with short hospital stay.