Single Center Experience with Sonolith R Vision Lithotripter for the Treatment of Solitary Urinary Stones in Saudi patients

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) using the Sonolith R vision Lithotripter for urinary stones. Patients and methods: From July 2005 to September 2008, 463 patients including 451 Saudi and 12 Non-Saudi patients, 62% males and 38% females aged 18-93 (mean 56.32 years) underwent ESWL treatment for solitary urinary stones at the lithotripsy unit of Arar Central Hospital, Arar City K.S.A. Data was analyzed retrospectively. More than half 250(54%) patients had left sided stones. The most frequent ureteral localization was distal (lower) ureteral 98(52%) patients and most frequent renal localization was renal pelvis 126 (46.49%) patients. The mean stone diameter was 1.41cm (1.02 ureteral and 1.8 cm renal). 56% of patients received ESWL Treatment under sedation with IV Pethidine 50mg diluted. Results: Our 463 patients required a total of 672 sessions of ESWL. Mean number of sessions per calculi was 1.425 (range 1-6). The percentage of patients who required a single session was 72.3%. The re-treatment rate was 25% for ureteral stones and 32% for renal stones. Treatment was more effective in ureteral stones. 56(12%) patients required other auxiliary procedures like DJ stenting and Ureteroscopy. In conclusion we found Sonolith R vision a safe and effective device for the treatment of urinary stones in selected patients.