Comparison of recurrence rates of calculi of the bladder in patients with indwelling catheters following vesicolithotomy, litholapaxy and electrohydraulic lithotripsy.

This retrospective review is the first to compare recurrence rates of calculi of the bladder following each of the three common methods. In 39 patients with bladder calculi and indwelling catheters, the recurrence rate of calculi of the bladder within two years was significantly greater following litholapaxy (44.1 per cent) or EHL (50.0 per cent) than vesicolithotomy (7.4 per cent). The average stone-free interval was shorter after litholapaxy (18.4 months) or EHL (13.8 months) than vesicolithotomy (70.8 months).