Do not treat staghorn calculi by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy alone!
Delaney, C.P.; Creagh, T.A.; Smith, J.M.; Fitzpatrick, J.M.
European Urology 24(3): 355-357
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0302-2838 PMID: 8262102 Document Number: 420016
A review of 84 patients with triple phosphate (staghorn) calculi treated by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) revealed a 67% stone clearance at 6 months. Classification of calculi according to morphology showed a variation in stone clearance from 47 to 82%. A significant number of patients developed complications (25%) or required additional procedures (27%). ESWL monotherapy is not a suitable treatment option for most patients with staghorn calculi.