The treatment of urolithiasis in children has been changed dramatically by extracorporeal shock wave lithlotripsy 9ESWL) and endourological procedure in recent years. Especially, the use of extracorporeal shock wave ithotripsy has changed the
planged
the place of open surgery in the treatment of urinary stones in children. A total 24 children with 25 renoureteral units underwent treatment with Therasonic Lithotripter System for urinary tract stones between Feb. 1992 and March 1996. The
patient
age
ranged from 3 months to 14 years with a mean of 4.7 years. The location of stones were renal in 9, upper ureter in 6, and lower ureter in 10 cases. The average stone length was 14mm with a range of 5mm to 50mm. Developmental anomalies of the
urinary
tract were noted in 2 children, and there were the incomplete duplicated ureter and the ureterocele. The excreted stones in 5 children were analysed biochemically and calcium oxalate stones were present in 3 cases, calcium phosphate stone in 1
and
cystine stone in 1. A complete stone free rate was acheved in 91.7%. Except for one case, no specific complication occurred during or after treatment, but perioperative antibiotic prophyaxis was done.
Therefore, the authors conclude that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a safe and effective method dfor the treatment of urinary stones in children.
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