Electrohydraulic lithotripsy of renal and ureteral calculi.

Electrohydraulic lithotripsy was used to manage 45 upper tract calculi (23 renal and 22 ureteral stones) in 40 patients. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy successfully fragmented 91% of the calculi. All ureteral fragments cleared; in 2 patients with renal calculi solitary 4 mm. stone fragments remained. There were no intraoperative or long-term complications directly related to the use of electrohydraulic lithotripsy in the upper urinary tract. We conclude that intrarenal and intraureteral electrohydraulic lithotripsy is a safe, effective, inexpensive means to perform intracorporeal lithotripsy.