Lithotripsy as an outpatient service

Abstract

A lithotripsy outpatient service was introduced in Hamilton in April 1989 and between then and July 1990 452 patients with renal calculi were treated. The patients came from throughout New Zealand. A three month follow up showed that with stones less than 20 mm in diameter there was total clearance of residual fragments of less than 2 mm in 70% of patients. With stones of diameter greater than 20 mm the clearance rate was 50%. Posttreatment complications needing medical assistance occurred in 7% (31 patients). In 21 patients the stone either could not be found or did not disintegrate.