OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) as monotherapy for renal stones >25 mm in children. METHODS: Our prospective study included 24 children <14 years old with radiopaque renal stones >25 mm treated by ESWL as first-line treatment using the electromagnetic Dornier DoLi S device. Pretreatment kidney, ureter, and bladder plain films and intravenous urography and post-treatment ultrasonography and kidney, ureter, and bladder plain films were used to monitor the clearance of fragments. Stone clearance was assessed at 1 and 3 months. A stone-free state was defined as no radiologic evidence of stone. Asymptomatic noninfectious and nonobstructive fragments <3 mm were considered insignificant. RESULTS: The 24 children, aged 2-14 years (mean 7) underwent 53 ESWL sessions. Of the 24 children, 10 had stones located in the left kidney and 14 had stones located in the right kidney. The stone size was 25-35 mm (average 31). The average number of shock waves was 3489 per session. All children underwent lithotripsy with a gradual incremental energy increase from 14 to 20 kV. The overall stone-free rate was 83.3%. Four patients had clinically insignificant fragments and were followed up for the possibility of stone regrowth, microscopic hematuria, and urinary tract infection. Complications affected 25% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: ESWL is highly effective for treatment of large renal stones in children as a first-line treatment with minimal morbidity. The placement of a stent is not a prerequisite for success of treatment.
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