Objectives: To know the factors associated to a successful result in the treatment of kidney transplant lithiasis by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).
Methods: From 850 kidney transplants performed at our center, we analyze 15 patients who developed urinary stones. Successful result by ESWL was the dependent variable, and size, location, and multiplicity of the stones were independent variables. Associations between variables were studied by the chi-square test (categorical variables) and the U-Mann Whitney test (continuous variables).
Results: Incidence was 1.76%. ESWL effectiveness was 87%; it was greater in solitary stones than in multiple stones (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found for stone size, although largest stones had a high risk for insertion of a nephrostomy tube (p = 0.013). Finally, ESWL was more effective for stones located at the ureteral anastomosis, although this difference was found not significant.
Conclusions: The treatment of kidney transplant lithiasis by ESWL has an effectiveness of 87%. The best result was found for solitary stones located at the ureteral anastomosis.