Results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in children, using the dornier MPL 9000 lithotriptor

Purpose: The objective of the report is to review extracorporeal shock wave litotripsy (ESWL) results in the pediatric age group treated with Dornier MPL 9000. Methods: Records of 59 pediatric patients undergoing ESWL using Dornier MPL 9000 lithotriptor for upper urinary tract stones between October 1991 and September 1995 were reviewed. Results: Seventy-one percent (42 of 59) of patients were completely stone free at 3 month follow-up, and 15% of the patients had partial stone clearance. Of 59, 13 had undergone ESWL for residual stone after open surgery. The mean stone size for all the patients was 14.5 mm (5 to 35 mm). Conclusions: ESWL is an effective method for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones in the pediatric age group. It can be used as the first line treatment in patients without previous surgery and patients with residual stones after open surgery. ESWL is an effective treatment for the upper urinary stones (up to 3.5 cm) in pediatric patients with a complete stone-free rate of 71% and partial clearance of stones in an additional 15%. We suggest that it should be used as the first line treatment in the pediatric age group.