Renal calculus disease.

The incidence of renal calculus disease increases with age and can be found as chronic or acute problems in elderly patients. The majority of stones are composed of calcium oxalate, but the incidence of infected stones increases in elderly, debilitated patients. Treatment of renal calculus disease has been revolutionized in the past decade through the use of percutaneous and extracorporeal techniques to eliminate standard open surgery. Medical therapy to control recurrent renal calculus disease has been effective in decreasing chronic nephrolithiasis.