Ultrasound-guided ESWL effectively treats renal and ureteral stones in children: Study

Ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) represents a safe and effective method for the management of both renal and ureteral stones in children suggest a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology on October 19, 2020.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was introduced by Chaussy et al. in the 1980s, and the first report of successful ESWL in children was published in 1986. Thereafter, several reports showed the safety as well as the stone-free rates of ESWL, which were comparable with those of adults. Repeated SWL sessions carry limitations due to the use of general anaesthesia and X-ray radiation. Although ESWL is widely accepted throughout the world as a first-line treatment modality, and although various studies have been conducted on it, its role in the management of pediatric and adolescent patients has not been fully established. So, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study including 124 consecutive pediatric patients with 133 renal and ureteral stones less than 2 cm whom SWL was performed in the period between January 2008 and December 2019. They conducted the study to evaluate stone-free rate (SFR) of 1-session of SWL for the management of pediatric renal and ureteral stones less than 2 cm performed exclusively under ultrasound guidance and identify factors influencing its success. SWL procedures were performed by one expert surgeon in a single, national reference centre, exclusively under ultrasound guidance using Modulith® SLK lithotripter. Follow up was scheduled in post-SWL 2nd, 4th, 12th weeks and 6 months. Stone-free status was determined by absent visible stone fragments on kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) x-ray and ultrasound.