While shockwave lithotripsy use has declined in some areas of the world, it is still very much used in others. Many guidelines offer it as an alternative to ureteroscopy for stones in the distal ureter. There is clinical equipoise that ureteroscopy is better. This study will evaluate whether SWL of distal ureteral stones is non-inferior to ureteroscopy.

The Study

Overall goals and objectives

Join this study to help determine if SWL of stones in the distal ureter to determine if it is as equally effective as ureteroscopy. This protocol is currently being developed and questions will include: randomized vs non-randomized and prospectively followed?

Stones in the ureter at or below the iliac crest will be eligible for study. The maximum size is 15 mm. Importantly, we will also gather quality of life data from each of the patients. Preliminary data from the S.M.A.R.T. study group has shown that QOL is better in patients with shockwave therapy compared to ureteroscopy, despite a lower stone free rate, when treating kidney stones.

Help us determine if our hypothesis that SWL offers equivalent stone free rates to ureteroscopy and with potentially improved quality of life.