Treatment of Urinary Calculus Disease: How to choose among various forms of treatment.

The treatment of urinary calculus disease has changed dramaticlly over the last 10 years. What once involved an open surgical procedure, often with a lengthy hospital stay, can now often be done as a day procedure under local anesthesia. This change has been brought about by technological advances in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous ultrasonic lithotripsy, as well as downsizing and fiberoptic improvements in urologic instruments.