Experiments with extracorporeal shock wave nephrolithotripsy.

Two sets of experiments were carried out on 14 live rabbits having renal calculi from nephrolithiasis patients implanted in their kidneys. Shock waves were used to disintegrate the implanted concrements. It took 100 to 150 sound pulses to crush struvite stones to fragments less than 2 mm in size, with 400 to 800 pulses needed to destroy calcium oxalate stones. After multiple exposures to shock waves there were no indications of any gross damage to the soft tissues of the experimental animals. Mechanisms for destruction of kidney stones by shock waves were considered.