Ultrasonography Is Not Inferior to Fluoroscopy to Guide Extracorporeal Shock Waves during Treatment of Renal and Upper Ureteric Calculi: A Randomized Prospective Study

Figure 2

Seven possible outcomes after SWL sessions. () Drop out: patients refusing to further participate in the study or not attending follow-up visit after maximally 3 weeks () Positive endpoint: Stone-free patients. Follow-up visit after 1 year. () Positive endpoint: Asymptomatic residual fragments ≤ 4 mm. Follow-up visit after 6 months. () Negative endpoint: Additional therapy needed. Ureterorenoscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, placement of an ureteric stent, or SWL on an ureteric stone no longer visible by ultrasound because of the location in the ureter. () Negative endpoint: No effect. No iconographic reduction in stone size and no gravel in the urine after 2 SWL sessions. () Intermediate outcome: Asymptomatic residual fragments ≥ 5 mm. Patients were proposed a second, third, or maximally fourth SWL session. () Intermediate outcome: Symptomatic residual fragments. Patients were proposed a second, third, or maximally fourth SWL session.