Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: Prematurely falling out of favour? A 7 year retrospective study from an Australian high-volume centre.

ESWL remains a legitimate option for the treatment of small and medium sized renal calculi. ESWL stone clearance rates at our centre are higher than published elsewhere and serve as proof to its efficacy. X-ray imaging on the day of the procedure, heavy consultant input and frequent intra-operative imaging are cited as key reasons for success. Further research is warranted to elucidate factors affecting stone clearance rate and to enable more standardised outcomes. Further investment may be required into ESWL provisions in most Australian states and especially in Queensland to enable its continued use in contrast to developing endourological techniques.