Experience with the Dornier HM4 and MPL 9000 lithotriptors in urinary stone treatment.

From November 17, 1987 until August 20, 1988 we operated a fluoroscopy guided Dornier HM4 kidney lithotriptor. This lithotriptor subsequently was replaced by the ultrasound guided Dornier MPL 9000 lithotriptor, a multipurpose machine for urinary and biliary stone treatment. With the Dornier HM4 device we performed 447 treatment sessions in 319 patients (483 stones). The mean number of shock waves was 1,848 per patient. The re-treatment rate was 1.17 per patient. After 3 months 85% of the patients were free of stone. Auxiliary procedures were performed in 27.6% of the sessions. From September 20, 1988 until August 30, 1989 we used the Dornier MPL 9000 lithotriptor on 246 patients with 407 stones in 354 treatment sessions. The mean number of shock waves per session was 1,654 per patient, 1.11 treatments were performed per patient and the rate free of stones after 3 months was 85%. Auxiliary measures before and after lithotripsy were performed in 33.6% of the sessions. The experience with both of these machines is discussed in regard to performance, as well as the specific advantages and disadvantages of the different imaging systems.