Case report. Geschokt door de wachttijd: ESWL bij blaasstenen

The first choice of treatment for vesical stones is transurethral cystolithotripsy (TUCL). However, waiting lists for surgery are long because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, some patients are not eligible for surgery due to comorbidity. During the nineties of last century, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) was a popular and safe treatment for bladder stones. When TUCL was found to be more effective, ESWL was more or less forgotten. Because ESWL can be performed on the outpatient clinic, waiting lists for ESWL are shorter than for surgical options. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have treated several patients with bladder stones with ESWL. We conclude that ESWL is a suitable alternative to TUCL for selected patients, however multiple ESWL sessions may be necessary for an effective treatment.