Quality of life in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH: change over time in real-life practice according to treatment--the QUALIPROST study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate change in quality of life (QoL) and symptoms in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) in conditions of current clinical practice. METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal, multicenter open-label study was carried out in urology outpatient clinics. Patients were ≥40 years of age with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) score ≥ 8. QoL and symptoms were measured at baseline and 6 months using the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) and the IPSS. RESULTS: 1713 patients were included for analysis. Mean (SD) IPSS and BII scores at baseline were 16.8 (5.4) and 6.8 (2.6), respectively. 8.9 % (n = 153) of study participants did not receive treatment (watchful waiting, WW), 70.3 % (n = 1204) were prescribed monotherapy (alpha-adrenergic blockers [AB]; phytotherapy [PT, of which 95.2 % was the hexanic extract of Serenoa repens, HESr]; or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors [5ARI]), and 20.8 % (n = 356) received combined treatment (AB + 5ARI; AB + HESr; others). At 6 months, improvements in QoL were similar across the different medical treatment (MT) groups, both for monotherapy (AB: mean improvement [SD] of 2.4 points [2.4]; PT: 1.9 [2.4]; 5ARI: 2.5 [2.3]) and combined therapy (AB + 5ARI: 3.1 [2.9]; AB + PT: 3.1 [2.5]). There were no clinically significant differences between MT groups and all showed significant improvement over WW (p < 0.05). HESr showed similar efficacy to AB and 5ARI both as monotherapy and in combination with AB. Results on the IPSS were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in QoL and symptoms were equivalent across the medical treatments most widely used in real-life practice to manage patients with moderate or severe LUTS. HESr showed an equivalent efficacy to AB and 5ARI with fewer side effects.

[Quality of life after brachytherapy or robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer]. / Evaluación de la calidad de vida de la braquiterapia vs prostatectomia robotizada en pacientes con carcinoma prostático localizado. Revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic bibliographic review of the literature assessing the quality of life and complications of robotic prostatectomy (RP) versus low-dose rate brachytherapy (LDR-BT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa). PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Emergency Care Research Institute, Web of Knowledge, Technology Evaluation Center, Clinical Evidence, Uptodate, Hayes and Drug Effectiveness Review Project. Systematic reviews and prospective studies comparing RP to LDR-BT in men with localized PCa were included. The primary outcome was quality of life and the secondary endpoint complications rate. RESULTS: Three systematic reviews and four prospective studies were included. RP showed better results than LDR-BT for SF-12-physical domain (p<0.01) and faster recovery to pre-operative scores. LDR-BT improved scores for UCLAPCI questionnaire-urinary and sexual domains compared to RP during the first three years of follow-up (p<0.001). First postoperative year urinary incontinence rate was favorable for LDR-BT (88.0% vs 84.5%, p<0.001). No differences for intestinal function scores for the first three post-intervention years (p = 0.02) were found. Major complications of LDR-BT were gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity, although pooled weighted events rate of the studies was not analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: LDR-BT improves quality of life in terms of urinary and sexual function in patients with localized PCa vs RP during the first three years post-intervention.

Prospective urodynamic model for prediction of urinary incontinence after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the preoperative urodynamic predictors of urinary incontinence (UI) 1 year after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and to design a nomogram capable of predicting its occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our prospective study included 58 previously continent patients who underwent RARP, in most cases, bilateral nerve-sparing and bladder neck preservation. A urodynamic examination including a urethral pressure profile was performed preoperatively. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the predictors for the need to use 1 or more pads/day and a nomogram was constructed. RESULTS: There was a 20.6% incidence of UI at 1 year after RARP. Bladder compliance, maximum urethral closure pressure and the development of bladder outlet obstruction, correlated well with the incidence of UI on the multivariate analysis (p = 0.043, 0.001, and 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Bladder compliance <27.8 ml/cm H2O, maximum urethral closure pressure <50.3 cm H2O and the bladder outlet obstruction are independent urodynamic factors correlating with UI after RARP. The new nomogram can objectively predict a patient likelihood of requiring 1 or more pads/day 1 year after RARP with a good accuracy.

[Malacoplakia of the seminal vesicles. Case report and particularities].

OBJECTIVE: Malacoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous disorder that mostly affects the urogenital system. This article describes a case of uncommon location of this disease at the level of the seminal vesicles and the clinical, imaging and histological particularities of this medical entity. METHOD: We report the case of a 69 year-old male consulting for constitutional syndrome that presented a pelvic tumor on the image studies, possibly arising in the seminal vesicles. RESULTS: The diagnosis was made after performing transrectal ultrasound and seminal vesicles biopsy by the pathognomonic histological findings of Michaelis Gutmann bodies. The presence of E. Coli in urine culture in our patient justified the use of a long-term antibiotic therapy such as quinolones with very good results. CONCLUSION: Malacoplakia of the seminal vesicles is an extremely rare condition, sometimes with non-specific clinical presentation. Its diagnosis is histological and it has good response to prolonged antibiotic therapy with a benign outcome.

Malacoplaquia de vesículs seminales. Presentación de un caso clínico y particularidades / Malacoplakia of the seminal vesicles. Case report and particularities

OBJETIVO: La malacoplaquia es un proceso inflamatorio granulomatoso crónico poco frecuente siendo el aparato genitourinario el asiento más frecuente de esta enfermedad. Se describe un caso que afecta a vesículas seminales con sus particularidades clínicas, diagnósticas e histológicas de esta entidad. MÉTODO: Varón, de 69 años ingresado en otro servicio por síndrome constitucional que tras la realización de pruebas de imagen (tomografía computerizada) se detecta una masa pélvica de posible origen en vesículas seminales. RESULTADOS: Se realiza ecografía transrectal y biopsia de vesículas seminales que en el estudio histológico evidencian la presencia de cuerpos de Michaelis Gutmann patognomónicos de malacoplaquia. El urocultivo fue positivo a Escherichia Coli, infección frecuentemente asociada a esta enfermedad y cuyo tratamiento de elección es la antibioterapia a largo plazo con fluoroquinolonas, que consiguió buenos resultados en nuestro caso. CONCLUSIÓN: La malacoplaquia localizada en vesículas seminales es una entidad extremadamente rara, con clínica a veces inespecífica, de diagnóstico histológico y tratamiento médico antibiótico con una evolución benigna(AU)

OBJECTIVE: Malacoplakia is a rare chronic granulomatous disorder that mostly affects the urogenital system. This article describes a case of uncommon location of this disease at the level of the seminal vesicles and the clinical, imaging and histological particularities of this medical entity. METHOD: We report the case of a 69 year-old male consulting for constitutional syndrome that presented a pelvic tumor on the image studies, possibly arising in the seminal vesicles. RESULTS: The diagnosis was made after performing transrectal ultrasound and seminal vesicles biopsy by the pathognomonic histological findings of Michaelis Gutmann bodies. The presence of E. Coli in urine culture in our patient justified the use of a long-term antibiotic therapy such as quinolones with very good results. CONCLUSION: Malacoplakia of the seminal vesicles is an extremely rare condition, sometimes with non-specific clinical presentation. Its diagnosis is histological and it has good response to prolonged antibiotic therapy with a benign outcome(AU)

Comprehensive prediction model of urinary incontinence one year following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary incontinence (UI) still remains one of the major functional complications after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). As the cause for UI is multifactorial, it is quite difficult to make a prediction preoperatively. Considering intraoperative and postoperative risk factors, besides the preoperative ones, we designed an incontinence prediction model, administered 1 month after the surgery, in order to identify incontinent patients at 1 year. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 244 patients who underwent RARP at our institution. Only 209 patients had sufficient data, a 1-year follow-up and were continent preoperatively. The association of UI with the risk factors was assessed by univariable and multivariable regression models. RESULTS: There was a 17.2% global UI rate at 1 year after RARP. Only age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, erectile function assessed by International Index of Erectile Function-5, prostate volume, nerve-sparing status and 24-hour urine loss at 1 month correlated with UI (p = 0.032, 0.009, 0.031, 0.018 and <0.001, respectively). The accuracy of the prediction model of UI was 92.8% (c-index), with an area under the curve of 91.9%. CONCLUSION: Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index, International Index of Erectile Function-5, prostate volume, nerve-sparing status and 24-hour urine loss at 1 month after RARP can predict an individual's risk of UI at 1 year after RARP with good accuracy. Further external validation is required in order to generalize the use of this model.

Trasplante renal con injertos procedentes de donantes en parada cardíaca Maastricht tipo III / Kidney transplantation with grafts from type III Maastricht non-beating-heart donors

El trasplante renal (TR) con riñones de donantes fallecidos en parada cardíaca (PC) está creciendo en nuestro país. La mayoría procede de donantes con los criterios de Maastricht tipo II, si bien en los últimos años el donante fallecido tras limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital (LTSV) es una realidad en algunos países europeos y norteamericanos y constituye el Maastricht tipo III. Se presenta una serie de 6 TR con riñones de donantes fallecidos tras PC como consecuencia de LTSV en tres hospitales del Sector Málaga. Tras consensuar protocolo de actuación en el que la valoración como donante fue siempre posterior a la decisión de LTSV, se planteó a las familias la opción de donación. La preservación de los riñones se realizó mediante sonda de doble balón tipo Porges que se colocó antes de la PC. En dos casos la LTSV se realizó en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos y en el tercero en quirófano. Los tiempos desde inicio LTSV hasta la PC oscilaron entre 15 y 40 minutos, con un tiempo de parada circulatoria antes del inicio de la (..) (AU)

Kidney transplantation (KT) with kidneys from non-beating-heart donors (NBHD) is a growing trend in Spain. The majority of these kidneys come from type II Maastricht patients, although in recent years, organ donations from patients deceased due to cardiac arrest following limitation of life-sustaining therapy has already been in practice in certain European and North American countries, and it involves type III Maastricht patients. We present a series of 6 KT using kidneys from NHBD as a consequence of limitation of life-sustaining therapy in three different hospitals in the sector of Malaga. After agreeing upon a protocol for evaluating the potential of a patient for organ donation, which was always after deciding to limit life-sustaining therapy, the patients' families were given the option of organ donation. Kidneys were preserved using a Porges double balloon catheter, which was placed prior to cardiac arrest. In two cases, the limitation of life-sustaining therapy took place in the intensive care unit, and in the third case, in the operating room. The interval between limitation of life-sustaining therapy and cardiac (..) (AU)

Kidney transplantation with grafts from type III Maastricht non-beating-heart donors.

Kidney transplantation (KT) with kidneys from non-beating-heart donors (NBHD) is a growing trend in Spain. The majority of these kidneys come from type II Maastricht patients, although in recent years, organ donations from patients awaiting cardiac arrest following limitation of life-sustaining therapy has already been in practice in certain European and North American countries, involving type III Maastricht patients. We present a series of 6 KT using kidneys from NHBD as a consequence of limitation of life-sustaining therapy in three different hospitals in the sector of Malaga. After agreeing upon a protocol for evaluating the potential of a patient for organ donation after the decision for limiting life-sustaining therapy, the patients' families were given the option of organ donation. Kidneys were preserved using a Porges double balloon catheter, which was placed prior to cardiac arrest. In two cases, the limitation of life-sustaining therapy took place in the intensive care unit, and in the third case, in the operating room. The interval between limitation of life-sustaining therapy and cardiac arrest ranged between 15 minutes and 40 minutes, with an interval of circulatory arrest prior to perfusion of 5-11 minutes. Perfusion-cooling of the kidneys was initially carried out using saline solution, followed by organ preservation solution (Celsior or Belzer) and extraction of the kidney using a rapid surgical technique. True or functional hot ischaemia times were 60 minutes, 59 minutes, and 50 minutes, respectively, for each of the three donors. Kidneys were evaluated for viability using time intervals for the procedure (including hypotension prior to cardiac arrest), macroscopic appearance, and histopathology of a sample taken from each kidney. The recipients of these 6 kidneys had given their consent to receive organs from expanded-criteria donors. Cold ischaemia lasted between 9 hours and 20 hours (mean: 14.6 hours). One recipient developed haemorrhagic complications during the immediate postoperative period and required a transplantectomy. The other five currently retain functioning grafts. All had delayed graft function, necessitating haemodialysis. The range of estimated glomerular filtration rates at the most recent follow-up evaluation was 23.0-106 ml/min/1.73 m(2). In conclusion, type III Maastricht donors provide valid kidneys for transplantation, although this series showed that supported functional hot ischaemia was very important, the consequence of accumulated ischaemic damage starting in the agonal phase, circulatory arrest, and organ preservation using cold solutions. As such, to improve the quality of results obtained using kidneys from these types of donors would involve a very careful selection of optimal donors and minimisation of total functional ischaemia times.

Key areas in the learning curve for robotic urological surgery: a Spanish multicentre survey.

BACKGROUND: The number of robotic-assisted procedures offered in Spain is rapidly increasing despite a lack of consensus criteria for training and credentialling. OBJECTIVE: This national multicentre study was designed to analyze the different areas of the robotic urological surgery learning curve. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all 13 urology units in Spain with an active robotics programme requesting information on training and problems encountered. RESULTS: In most centres (n = 11, 84.6%), training programmes were animal-based; cadavers were used at only 2 (15.4%). Proctoring in initial procedures was practiced by 12 groups (92.3%). When initiating the robotics programme, the console was shared at 8 units (61.5%). Prior experience in open and/or laparoscopic surgery was reported by 10 of the groups (76.9%), and experience in open surgery only by 2 (15.4%) or robotic surgery alone by 1 (7.7%). The procedure with which the robotics programme was started in all 13 participating units was radical prostatectomy. The number of cases needed to complete the learning curve for this procedure was 20-25 cases according to 8 (61.5%) surgery teams. CONCLUSIONS: Up until March 26, 2010, 1,692 operations, mostly radical prostatectomies, were conducted using the da Vinci robot in our country.

Ruptura testicular traumática: papel de la exploración quirúrgica / Traumatic testicular rupture: the role of surgical exploration

Se presenta un hombre de 20 años de edad que sufre lesión traumática testicular durante práctica de artes marciales. Se discute el papel de la ecografía y de la exploración quirúrgica.

We present a man 20 years of age that suffered a traumatic testicular injury during the practice of martial arts. The role of echography and surgical exploration are discussed.

[Intraureteral foreign body]. / Cuerpo extraño intraureteral.

OBJECTIVE: We present a rare localization for a foreing body in the urinary system, and review the bibliography to know about it existence, frequency and localization. METHODS: We present the case of a 49 year old woman who referreds she had introduced a metallic objet in her genital area. RESULTS: After the necessary tests, we could see a metallic cylinder. It was 8 cm long and was localized inside the right pelvic ureter. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of strange bodies in the urinary system is a rare urological emergency. Treatment is the key element of the extraction of the least bloody way possible.

[Bilateral obstructive uropathy as clinical presentation of primary bladder lymphoma]. / Uropatía obstructiva bilateral como forma de presentación de linfoma vesical primario.

OBJECTIVE: We report the event of an atypical presentation of primary bladder lymphoma, treated in our hospital, and review the literature of such tumors, representing 0.2% of bladder tumors, being macroscopic hematuria with clots the most frequent reason for patient consultation. METHODS: We report the case of an 83 years old man who went to the emergency room because of oligoanuria of 48 hours of evolution. He was diagnosed of bladder tumor. RESULTS: The pathology turned out to be a primary bladder lymphoma cell B. CONCLUSIONS: Primary bladder lymphoma is a rare entity that presents a similar behaviour to other bladder tumors, having a good response to treatment with chemotherapy.

Uropatia obstructiva bilateral como forma de presentación de linfoma vesical primario / Bilateral obstructive uropathy as clinical presentation of primary bladder lymphoma

OBJETIVO: Dar a conocer un caso de presentación atípica de linfoma vesical primario tratado en nuestro hospital, así como revisar la bibliografía de este tipo de tumores, que representan el 0.2% de los tumores vesicales, siendo su forma de presentación más frecuente la hematuria macroscópica con coágulos.MÉTODOS: Presentamos el caso de un varón de 83 años, que acudió a Urgencias por oligoanuria de 48h de evolución, en el que se diagnosticó un tumor vesical.RESULTADO: La anatomía patológica resulto ser un linfoma vesical primario de células B.CONCLUSIONES: El linfoma vesical primario es una entidad poco frecuente, que cursa de forma indistinguible a otros tumores vesicales, presentando una buena respuesta al tratamiento con quimioterapia(AU)

OBJECTIVE: We report the event of an atypical presentation of primary bladder lymphoma, treated in our hospital, and review the literature of such tumors, representing 0,2% of bladder tumors, being macroscopic hematuria with clots the most frequent reason for patient consultation.METHODS: We report the case of an 83 years old man who went to the emergency room because of oligoanuria of 48 hours of evolution. He was diagnosed of bladder tumor.RESULTS: The pathology turned out to be a primary bladder lymphoma cell B.CONCLUSIONS: Primary bladder lymphoma is a rare entity that presents a similar behaviour to other bladder tumors, having a good response to treatment with chemotherapy(AU)

Cuerpo extraño intraureteral / Intraureteral foreign body

OBJETIVO: Presentar una localización atípica de cuerpos extraños en el interior del aparato urinario, así como revisar en la bibliografía su existencia, frecuencia y localización.MÉTODOS: Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 49 años, que refiere la introducción de un objeto metálico en el área genital.RESULTADO: Tras la realización de las pruebas complementarias pertinentes, se objetiva un cilindro metálico de 8 cm de longitud, localizado en el interior del uréter pelviano derecho.CONCLUSIÓN: La presencia de cuerpos extraños en el interior del aparato urinario es una rara urgencia urológica, su tratamiento fundamental consiste en la extracción del elemento de la manera menos cruenta posible(AU)

OBJECTIVE: We present a rare localization for a foreing body in the urinary system, and review the bibliography to know about it existence, frequency and lo-calization.METHODS: We present the case of a 49 year old woman who referreds she had introduced a metallic objet in her genital area.RESULTS: After the necessary tests, we could see a metallic cylinder. It was 8 cm long and was localized inside the right pelvic ureter.CONCLUSIONS: The presence of strange bodies in the urinary system is a rare urological emergency. Treatment is the key element of the extraction of the least bloody way possible(AU)

Holmium laser treatment for low grade, low stage, noninvasive bladder cancer with local anesthesia and early instillation of mitomycin C.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the results of laser photocoagulation of recurrent low stage noninvasive bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 36 patients with a recurrent superficial papillary tumor within 1 year of endoscopic resection. Patients underwent laser photocoagulation of the recurrence under local anesthesia and sedation. They received early instillation of 40 mg mitomycin C and were discharged home without a catheter a few hours after the operation. Patients completed a visual analog scale to quantify the perceived level of pain, including 1--no pain to 10--maximum pain. Patients were reviewed after 3, 6 and 12 months to evaluate tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The mean and median visual analog scale score was 3 points (range 1 to 10). No patient had urinary infection or a catheter at hospital discharge. The incidence of recurrence at 12 months was 25%, mainly in the first 15 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Laser photocoagulation with local anesthesia and sedation is easy to perform and well tolerated. There were no complications and the recurrence rate was similar to that of transurethral resection, as calculated using the recurrence calculator of the 2006 guidelines on TaT1 (nonmuscle invasive) bladder cancer from the European Association of Urology.

[Treatment of childhood lithiasis using extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy]. / Tratamiento de litiasis infantil mediante litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficiency of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the treatment of pediatric urolithiasis, analyzing results and complications in our series. METHODS/RESULTS: 20 patients (16 males and 4 females) with ages from 2 to 17 years were evaluated. Twelve patients presented left side lithiasis (60%). The size of the stone was measured in cm2 areas. 6 cases (30%) presented with lower calyx stones and 5 cases (25.9%) with stones in the pelvic ureter. 2 patients required JJ catheter insertion. Mean number of shock waves per session was 2,650 (range: 1,000-3,800). The Dornier Lithotripter S and Dornier MFL-5000 lithotripsy machines were used in the range of 10-120 Kv and 14-23 Kv respectively. Follow-up evaluation was performed at one week and three months from treatment, including abdomen x-ray to obtain fragmentation and elimination percentages. In our series total fragmentation was achieved in 100% of the cases, without any patient with partial fragmentation (fragments > 5 mm). Elimination percentages were satisfactory, with a 65% total elimination and 30% partial elimination (residual fragments < 5 mm) within one week. One patient had no elimination at all. CONCLUSIONS: After the results obtained in our series, we consider external shock wave lithotripsy the first treatment option in cases of pediatric urolithiasis.

Tratamiento de litiasis infantil mediante litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque / The treatment of pediatric urolithiasis by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

OBJETIVOS: Tratamos de evaluar la efectividad del tratamiento con litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque (LEOC) en la litiasis infantil, analizando los resultados y complicaciones de nuestra serie. MÉTODO/RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron un total de 20 pacientes (16 varones y mujeres) con edades comprendidas entre 2 y 17 años. Doce pacientes presentaron litiasis en el lado izquierdo (60 por ciento). El tamaño del cálculo fue medido en cm2 de superficie. En 6 de los casos (30 por ciento) la litiasis se localizó a nivel calicial inferior y en 5 casos (25,9 por ciento) a nivel de uréter pelviano. Dos pacientes requirieron la colocación de catéter doble J. El número de ondas medio por sesión fue de 2650 (rango: 1000-3800).Los litotriptores utilizados fueron Dornier Lithotripter S y Dornier MFL-5000, utilizando un rango de kilovoltaje de entre 10-120 en la primera y 14-23 en la segunda. Se efectuó una evaluación a la semana y a los 3 meses del tratamiento mediante radiografía simple de abdomen, obteniendo porcentajes de fragmentación y eliminación.En nuestra serie la fragmentación total alcanzó un 100 por ciento de los casos, no objetivando ningún paciente con fragmen tación parcial (fragmentos >5 mm). Los porcentajes de eliminación fueron satisfactorios con un 65 por ciento de eliminación total y una eliminación parcial (quedando fragmentos residuales <5 mm) del 30 por ciento en la primera semana. En 1 paciente no se produjo eliminación alguna. CONCLUSIONES: Tras los resultados obtenidos en nuestra serie, consideramos la LEOC como la primera opción terapéutica a realizar en caso de litiasis infantil (AU)

[Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy as treatment of lithiasis in horseshoe kidney]. / Litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque como tratamiento de la litiasis en riñones en herradura.

OBJECTIVES: Horseshoe kidney is the most frequent renal congenital anomaly, with an estimated general population prevalence of 1/400-500. This entity may be asymptomatic for the entire lifetime, or produce symptoms from associated complications such as lithiasis, hydronephrosis, or recurrent infections. The incidence of lithiasis varies between 20% and 80% of the patients. The treatment of lithiasis in this entity is controversial due to problems derived from the anatomy of the kidney and its drainage when stones are treated with external shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). We tried to evaluate the efficacy of ESWL treatment and to establish the ideal conditions in which this technique may be considered treatment of choice. METHODS & RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were evaluated (17 males and 8 females). Patient age ranged from 8 to 75 year old. Three patients presented with bilateral lithiasis. 27 renal units were treated, 18 of which were left (66.7%) and 7 right. Stone size was measured in cm2 of surface. Lithiasis was located at the renal pelvis in 13 cases (48.1%), and lower calyx in 7 (25.9%). Four patients required JJ stent insertion. Mean number of shock waves per session was 3480 (range 1000-4000). Two Shock wave generators were used for treatment, the Dornier lithotripter S and the Dornier MFL-5000, with a range of 10-120 KV for the first one and 14-23 KV for the second. Follow up KUB X-rays were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months to evaluate fragmentation and elimination rates. In our series total fragmentation was 85.2%, and partial fragmentation (fragments > 6 mm) 14.8%. Elimination rates were satisfactory with 37.4% total elimination, and 48.1% partial elimination (Fragments < 6 mm). 14.8% of the patients had no elimination at all. CONCLUSIONS: We consider ESWL the first therapeutic option for cases of lithiasis with a mean area 4 cm2 or less and pelvic location. In case of great lithiasic areas other therapeutic options should be considered (open surgery or percutaneous nephrolithotomy) either in monotherapy or complementary to ESWL.