Five-Year Follow-up of Urinary Stone Patients Treated with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Follow-up studies were carried out in ESWL patients treated from February 1980 to May 1984. The 131Iodohippuran clearance studied separately in both kidneys of the first 18 patients showed no deterioration of renal function 7 years post-ESWL. Follow-up of 754 patients treated between May 1982 and May 1984 with a wide range of indications for ESWL, show stones in 55% at hospital discharge, in 16% 6 months post-ESWL, and in 24% an average of 40 months post-ESWL. The portion of particles bigger than 5 mm increased from 4% at 6 months to 47% at 40 months. Review of stone location showed an accumulation of residual stones in the lower calices during the first months after ESWL. In the long-term follow-up, the proportion of pelvic stones increased. Recurrent stones were found in 8% of patients. Between hospital discharge and 40 months post-ESWL, further urologic operations, primarily ESWL, had to be performed in 18% of cases.