Introduction: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of ESWL in the management of acute renal colic.
Material and method: From January 2003 to August 2003, 102 patients were hospitalised for renal colic. We treated 57 patients by ESWL using an EDAP LT 02 apparatus. Successful treatment was defined by stone fragmentation on the plain abdominal x-ray at 24 hours associated with resolution of pain after only one ESWL session.
Results: The overall complete success rate after only one ESWL session was 49%. Results according to site: UPJ stones: 46% of success, lumbar ureter: 14%, iliac ureter: 33%, pelvic ureter: 66%. According to size: < 5 mm: 57% of success, 6 to 10 mm: 70%, 11 to 15 mm: 27%, > 15 mm: 0%. No difference in success rate was observed according to the cumulative energy delivered or according to the duration of ESWL sessions.
Conclusion: ESWL can be considered to be a first-line treatment for acute renal colic. Its best indications correspond to pelvic or UPJ stones less than 10 mm in diameter. We believe that it is useless to exceed a duration of 30 min per ESWL session at a frequency of to 2 Hz.