[Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the treatment of urolithiasis--experiences from a center with the Piezolith 2200 and HM3 lithotriptors].

The Piezolith 2200 allows not only a qualitatively identical treatment of urolithiasis like the HM-Dornier systems or the Siemens Lithostar, but the application of lithotriptable urinary calculi could be extended to cardiac risk patients, to patients with skeletal deformities and to those with unusual body height and weight. As the piezolithotripsy does not cause pain, treatment is possible without anaesthesia or analgesia. Combined with internal ureteral stenting by self-retaining double-J-ureteral catheter also calculi with larger stone masses can be treated advantageously by exclusive piezolithotripsy as monotherapy. Multiple treatments by the piezolithotriptor are possible because of good focussing of the shock waves and the smaller parenchymal alteration. Lithotripsy of ureteral calculi is performed in the upper and lower part of the ureter. In small calculi the retrograde introduction of an ureteral catheter armed with an "ultrasound mirror" is necessary.