Treatment of upper urinary tract calculi using siemens lithostar multiline, and comparison with previous machine: Lithostar

Abstract

(Purpose) We compared the efficacy, safety and conveniency of previous and present lithotriptors for the treatment of upper urinary tract calculi. (Patients and method) 691 patients with renal calculi and 2,294 patients with ureteral calculi were treated using a 2nd generation electromagnetic fluoroscopic guided lithotriptor, the Lithostar (L group), and 153 with renal calculi and 486 with ureteral calculi were treated using a 3rd generation lithotriptor, the Lithostar Multiline (M group). The success rates, defined as stone-free or residual fragments that were 4 mm or less on three months later, were calculated and compared. (Results) The percentage of outpatient were 85.3% (L) and 95.1% (M). The success rates of the L group for the overall and the ureteral calculi patients were indicated significantly better than the M group (89.6% vs 81.4%, 92.2% vs 82.7%, respectively). Mean number of treatment of the L group (1.62) for the ureteral calculi were significantly less than the M group (1.64). For the renal calculi, no significance of the success rates were observed (L : 81.0% vs M : 77.1%). Mean fluoroscopy time of the M group (2.8 min.) were significantly shorter than the L group (3.7 min). Less percentage of pentazocine required in the M group (34.7% ) than in the L group (50.8%). (Conclusion) This study shows that the success rate of the Multiline does not exceed the previous machine, however, the Multiline achieved shorter fluoroscopy time and decreased rate of adapting analgesia. The Lithostar Multiline is useful, safe and convenient on an outpatient basis.