SLOW VERSUS FAST SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY RATE FOR UROLITHIASIS: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

ABSTRACTPurpose: We determined the effect of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) rate on treatment outcome in patients with renal and ureteral stones.Materials and Methods: A total of 156 patients were prospectively randomized to receive SWL using a slow (60 pulses per minute) or fast wave rate (120 pulses per minute). Inclusion criteria were patients with a single radiopaque renal or ureteral stone not exceeding 30 mm in maximum diameter. Patient characteristics, stone and therapy features were reviewed, and the relation to success rate and total number of shock waves required was assessed using the chi-square, Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney tests. Factors proven to be significant in univariate analysis were entered in a multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: The study included 114 male (73.1%) and 42 female (26.9%) patients with a mean age ± SD of 42.1 ± 13.3 years. Stone length measured in maximum diameter was 13.2 ± 5.9 mm (range 5 to 30). Renal stones were encountered in 94 (60.3%) patients and u...